Council rejects residential zoning change request

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City council on Monday rejected a zoning change that had sparked strong objections from neighbors.

Joe Chamberlain had requested a change from General Retail B-2 to Commercial and Wholesale Services District B-3 for 414 Hollis St. Chamberlain also applied for a special use permit authorizing a vehicle tank farm on the property.

Chamberlain operates a snow and tree removal service from a warehouse at the rear of the property.

The front half of the property, along Hollis Street, is zoned R-2 residential and the back half is zoned B-2.

When the Planning Commission examined the petition on September 23, seven neighbors objected. They complained about noise, smells of diesel exhaust, heavy equipment entering and leaving the property at all hours of the day and night, and potential damage to Hollis Street resulting from the use of heavy vehicles.

Lyle Ince of Community State Bank, who bought the adjacent Tenney Bowl property earlier this year, also objected. Ince, plans are to demolish the old bowling alley soon, and although the former owner of this property has given Chamberlain permission to access his property from the east, the bank will not pursue this arrangement.

Chamberlain attended the council meeting and said he works hard, sometimes having to go out at 2 a.m.

“That was one of the complaints,” Mayor Gary Moore said.

The Planning Commission unanimously voted to reject the petition. This means that the petition would have required at least four “yes” votes to pass; in this case, there were no “yes” votes.

Council voted to approve a special use permit for Chandra Kuffel to operate a home spa and salon at 215 E. Garfield St.

In other actions:

  • Council approved an agreement with Gustafson Ford allowing the dealership to park vehicles for sale on the city’s right-of-way on the west side of the 100 block of Lexington Avenue.
  • Police Chief Nicholas Welgat gave a presentation on the idea of ​​leasing police vehicles instead of buying them.
  • Welgat said the police fleet includes a number of older vehicles that should be replaced. He said a rental program would allow the ministry to acquire up to four new cars and trucks at a lower cost than buying new ones.
  • An ordinance banning vaping on city school grounds has been approved.
  • City manager Gary Bradley said both school districts have indicated there have been issues with students owning vaping equipment, and that a city ordinance will allow violators to be prosecuted.


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