12/16/1997 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 12/16/97 traffic would use Bradley. Regarding the rezoning, Mr. Kolwicz said it would take away «,n the neighbors ability to get a fair market value for their homes since light industrial already exists in the area. If it stays light industrial, they have the ability to sell their property to businesses. Mayor Boyle said the same argument could be made that the entire city should be open zoning so that people can get the best dollar for their property. For example, it would not make sense to put retail in the middle of a development because two or three houses could sell to a convenience store. Zoning has a purpose, and that is the regulation of neighborhoods and the maintenance of it. He believes the decision made thirty years ago to rezone this area to light industrial was wrong. We need to preserve the green space that we have--it is better to stop this now than have people in ten years say that it should have been stopped. Mr. Kolwicz asked whether the two issues, rezoning and the purchase of property for recreational use, could be considered separately. He was assured that they were totally independent of one another. Mr. Kolwicz said he felt the people in the audience would probably favor the baseball fields but not the rezoning. Shirley Carter, 31208 Bradley Road, spoke from the audience. Mrs. Carter felt that a rezoning would decrease the value of her property and that of her neighbors. Mark Helier, 31266 Bradley Road, is the agent for the business located at this address. Mr. Helier, who arrived late, asked if the two issues were "tied" together. Mayor Boyle again explained that the issues were separate and were actually separate pieces of legislation. Mr. Helier asked if the city was exempt from its own rules. Law Director ~«~ Gareau explained that the city is exempt from the Zoning Code. Mr. Helier said he `~~' agreed with the previous speakers that a rezoning would cause a decrease in property values. He also expressed concern about not being able to expand, and it was explained that he could apply for a variance. Scott Carter, 31208 Bradley Road. Mr. Carter said he believed all the residents on Bradley Road were concerned about their property values decreasing. He has investigated this issue and property values do decrease in a light industrial area when it is converted back to residential. Mr. Carter noted that most people on Bradley Road are self-employed and many have plans to develop their property for light industrial. At this point, they see their dreams "going up in smoke." He does not feel the preservation of green space is a major concern with the Bradley Road residents, but they are concerned with maintaining their property values. He personally has had dreams for the past 30 years of putting in light industrial buildings on his property. Mayor Boyle agreed that he was getting the same reading from the neighbors. He suggested that the city apply for Issue 2 funds for a new road to run from Lorain Road towards Bradley Road. This would allow the area to stay light industrial but would take the trucks and other traffic off of Bradley Road. He suggested that the neighbors put this request into writing and send it on to the County Commissioners. He offered his help in writing the letter and said that the city would include it in the application for Issue 2 grants. 7 ..: ~., ..~..::...,~ ..._ _ ...._.Y:x,,..:r... ~., . ~~... , .