Last night Council had a public hearing and third reading on the request for EnviroScience to re-zone their property on Stow Road in Ward 2 from O-Conservation to C-4 Commercial. The Planning Commission reviewed this item and recommended denial of the rezoning unanimously. This item then required 5 votes of Council to be re-zoned, which it did not receive, it was a 4-3 vote with Aliteri, Feldman, Hailer and Shaw voting for re-zoning and Fiocca, McIntire, and myself voting No. My vote to not re-zone had nothing to do with EnviroScience, their organization is a great fit in the middle of our O-Conservation district as they are very aware and aligned with conservation. My vote was concerned about the future potential of what could be allowed by right in that area if it was rezoned commercial. While I understand that long term plans are for EnviroScience to remain in that space, sometimes best laid plans can change. If re-zoned commercial it would be difficult to change the zoning back in the future after a sale or proposed other use. There has been a lot of talk in the City about conservation in the last several years and I believe this is a space that we need to keep conservation.
There was also an application for a conditional zoning certificate for a car wash to be located on Fischcreek Road just south of Drug Mart. This will be a tunnel car wash similar to a few others that we have in the City already. The use of a car wash in this area is conditionally permitted and it was recommended from Planning Commission for the approval of this car wash. This item would have required 5 no votes to be denied by Council, it passed by a 5-2 vote of Council, McIntire and myself voted no. I voted no on this because the site plan proposed required a lot split and the remaining left over lot would likely be difficult to develop or use with the split.
It is expected that the purchase of the property on Call road where our driving range is located should close in the next two weeks prior to our next Council Meeting. I requested approval from the Planning Committee that our Law Department be authorized to draft legislation at the close of the sale that would re-zone the newly purchased property from R-2 Residential to O Conservation. This would align the zoning of this area to the zoning of Fox Den.
The 2021 road paving program has been behind this year for several reasons, first, it was a late start for getting the program out for bid, then once it was awarded and approved, there have been several issues with the concrete contractor who was the lowest possible bidder. This delayed the program further because concrete curb repairs have to be completed before paving can begin. The concrete program recently began it is believed that paving should begin in 2 weeks and should be completed still this year. The cart path at Fox Den is also in the process of being repaved this year and it is expected that should be complete by October. Hopefully this will be way less of an issue next year as Council plans to pass our budget in 2021 for 2022 to allow any programs that need to go out for bid to happen much earlier in the year.
Council’s next meeting will be Thursday October 14, 2021 with committees starting at 5:30 PM and Council to follow.