Here are some of the decisions...
Here are some of the decisions coming out of the City Council
meeting on Monday.
BRISTOL STREET APPEAL
WHAT HAPPENED:
The council narrowly approved a Bristol Street development that
proposed a building height that exceeded city requirements by six
feet.
The owners of 2800 Bristol St. requested permission to build the
two-story, 36-foot retail and office building in an area of the city
where the height limit is 30 feet. The Planning Commission
unanimously approved the request in June.
Councilman Chris Steel appealed the decision, saying the lot was
part of the “Bristol Street Specific Plan” and the project should
have at least been discussed with the advisory committee for that
area. Steel said he understood the project was proposed long before
the committee was formed, but he said he would still like the
developers to at least meet with the committee to make sure
uniformity is created throughout the area.
Councilwoman Karen Robinson agreed with Steel, but other city
leaders refused to stall the project any longer.
WHAT IT MEANS:
The building will be permitted at its 36-foot height and will not
go to the Bristol Street Specific Plan Oversight Committee for
review.
WHAT WAS SAID:
“I understand the length of time the project has been in the works
but we have a committee [for that specific area] and it is
appropriate for that committee to review this project,” Robinson
said.
AUTHORITY CHECK
WHAT HAPPENED:
Council members unanimously approved Councilman Gary Monahan’s
request to more clearly define the authority of advisory commissions
and committees with respect to dictating staff workload.
Despite the criticism he received for bringing this item forward
regarding previous actions of the Planning Commission, Monahan said
he felt it was important to clarify rules that limit the time city
staffers can spend on projects not endorsed by the City Council.
Without discussion, the council approved that commissions and
committees be included in a city ordinance -- which was previously
specific to only the council -- stating that staff may not spend more
than four hours on an item that has not been approved by the council.
WHAT THIS MEANS:
Staffers may not spend more than four hours researching or working
on an issue that does not have City Council endorsement.
CHAIN-LINK FENCES
WHAT HAPPENED:
The City Council overwhelmingly approved changes to city codes
that not only outlaw the installation of visible chain-link fences in
residential areas but requires property owners to either remove or
cover existing fences with city-approved shrubbery.
WHAT IT MEANS:
Property owners with chain-link fences that are visible from the
street of an alley must either remove them or cover them with plants.
-- Compiled by Lolita Harper
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