07-22-13 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JULY 22, 2013 evidence presented at the public hearing. #1 That a proposed use would not be injurious to the public, health, safety, comfort, community moral standards, convenience or general welfare. I would like to focus on #1, there is no need for me to get to #2, #3 or #4. #1 says may not be injurious to the public health, safety, comfort, community moral standards, convenience or general welfare. I see a lot of discomfort in here tonight and that’s under the convenience issues really and safety issues have been brought up on this kind of thing. I really wish I would have talked and shared this in our conference this afternoon. With all due respect to private money a lot of the issues on the Eastside were not just done with private money, they were done by tax dollars in those areas too. A lot of those areas on the Eastside did not have histories that were issues of safety or comfort and we have a situation here that is dealt with safety and comfort since I have been on the Council. That’s the issue that I really think that I would hope while private owners do have an opportunity to grow their business and given the Special Exception Use when they do that no matter how much money they plan to invest. There is a need to look at what’s comfort and safety. It would be my wish and I think Councilmember Davis alluded to this earlier and we talked about it again that there could be some way that, and some have had discussions and talked about this, that the store could be expanded and because I did see Rev. Brown’s pictures and I have seen others and understand that the store could be expanded which could help convenience and everything else. But the gas station issue adds another level of challenges that in that area which I pass often it is not safe over there, it’s not comfort over there, that would be the best way to have some kind of understanding for both sides to increase the store not have the gas station, deal with how things would go there and move forward in life. That would add some safety and comfort to everybody, a little discomfort to everybody, but overall comfort. I think we can really move forward in that, so in light of the owners taking some time to still invest in that area expand their place and delete the issue of the gas station, I would be all for it. If they cannot do it in this current proposal, I understand that and I would have not for that at this time. So, it’s up to them to see if they can make some adjustments, I’m sure they can, I hope they can, I know they can. So I am pleading to them at this time to just make some adjustments and move forward. Councilmember Gavin Ferlic: I want to say thank you to everyone who came out tonight and took their time to express their opinion. Appreciate it. Councilmember Dieter: Also a thank you for everybody showing up tonight. Again this Council we do a lot of work, we do a lot of homework, we talk to a lot of people, and our goal in the end is to mediate everything that the people want. Not that were doing anything intentionally when there is a divide between people in neighborhoods you know. We do end up taking one way or the other but it’s not taking sides, not to win; to lose we just try to mediate once we get all this information. And Oliver’s point of what comes before us on the zoning laws, I think he stated that pretty well, so, I defer to you Councilmember White. Chairperson White: At this point you have heard from all the Councilmember’s and I have personally talked to a number of neighbors and actually visited the area, I used to live right down the street on 249 N. Kenmore. The house is still standing and the issue in terms that is before us it is unfortunate as Councilmember Henry Davis has stated that the community is divided, hopefully we can move forward. Whether the gas station remains or not, I am not in support of even a gas station when you begin to look at the location which is really infringed upon the neighborhood. I think that at this point there will be plans forthcoming in regards to the Western Avenue Corridor citizens will have the opportunity for input and as we begin to look at the lack of neighborhood support I think that we as a Council we have to listen to our citizens even though there are others who have spoken in support. This has been an ongoing issue for quite some time and I think that it is very important that the Council we would take action and that we would work collectively together to really bring the sides together to see what is best for your neighborhood. It is your neighborhood and I think that we have to listen to our citizens and look at a plan. One of the individuals that spoke in support Rev. Brown brought some excellent points, we need to not only look at Munchie Mart, Ricky’s Mart, but all of these types of stores that are in our community and I think that is where the Council needs to make sure that we have consistency in regards to what we are asking of Rick’s Mart, but also all of these mini-marts are in our community and we are very aware that it brings other types of negative impact within the community as well. And so I am going to pledge that we work as a Council to look at all these mini-marts within our community not only from a zoning perspective but from enforcement and 7