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