Westside permit rejected

Alicia Robinson

Even though the City Council has approved a conceptual plan for the

future of the Westside, that plan hasn’t quelled debate about how

quickly the changes should be wrought.

Tuesday, the council overturned a planning commission decision

that would have allowed a construction-contracting business to move

into a property that’s been home to Faulkner’s Mower Shop for 25

years.

Property owner Michael Faulkner wants to sell the parcel, and the

prospective buyer, Norman Dias, needed a permit to put a small,

construction-contracting business on the site.

The planning commission approved Dias’ plans, but Councilwoman

Linda Dixon appealed the decision, claiming a contracting business

isn’t compatible with future plans for the Westside.

The council agreed with Dixon’s appeal in a 3-2 vote, with Katrina

Foley and Gary Monahan dissenting.

“I think this is the wrong place for Mr. Dias’ business when we

intend to move forward and make the Westside a better place,” Dixon

said.

The council in March agreed to a slate of initiatives to

revitalize the Westside, including the development of live-work

spaces and new zoning for housing that will eventually displace

run-down industrial properties.

But the council hasn’t yet voted on the specifics of the

revitalization plan, such as designating new zonings. Foley worried

that barring the contracting business would be passing up an

opportunity to have the West 19th Street property fixed up now.

Foley pointed out that Faulkner’s property is now vacant -- he

recently moved his business to West 18th Street.

The goal of the revitalization plan was to offer more types of

zoning for the Westside, giving property owners choices, Monahan

said.

“I view what we have in front of us today as the same type of

issue,” he said. “It’s a property-rights issue.”

While most people have agreed that the Westside needs improvement,

disagreement among council members and residents about Faulkner’s

property highlights differing opinions about how fast that

improvement should progress.

Some residents agreed with Dixon, saying the council should hold

fast to its decision that the Westside be developed, sooner rather

than later, into homes, artists’ lofts and family-friendly

businesses.

But to others, allowing Dias to open his business on West 19th

Street won’t conflict with that.

“It’s nice to envision the Westside as an upscale destination

point,” said resident Jo Gerlach. “But it’s going to take baby

steps.”