Council establishes zoning for PIC West

The Partnership Industrial Center West took another step toward fruition at City Council's July 23 meeting. Council rezoned about 131 acres of newly annexed land at Division Street and Haseltine Road to a heavy manufacturing district from light manufacturing.

Earlier the city had annexed the land so it could enforce its regulations on the property in the developing industrial park, instead of letting the county have that power, according to zoning documents attached to the ordinance.

Council also approved a bill to amend the City Code to require registration by licensees of kegs containing wine, beer or intoxicating liquor in an attempt to reduce under-age drinking. The substitute bill approved by council didn't require that the purchaser provide the location where the keg would be used. Such provision was thought to be an intrusion by Councilwoman Teri Hacker, who proposed the substitute bill.

The council also voted unanimously to approve the preliminary plat of Olde Ivy Subdivision in Old Southern Hills as an addition to the city and to accept dedication of land and easements.

Improvements in the land will rid the area of open sewage lagoons, according to Councilman Ralph Manley, and allow for development of new homes in the area.

Development

In other business, Craig Lowther, an attorney representing the South Campbell Partnership, spoke to a bill that would authorize a planned development at 3165 S. Campbell.

He said didn't understand why the Planning & Zoning Commission objected to the proposal that five boats be displayed on South Campbell, a street he said is already full of boat and car displays.

The commission had earlier rejected the proposal 0-8 because the landowner wasn't willing to create green space as the commission had requested.

The landowner wanted to be able to rent to a tenant who wished to establish a boat sale-and-repair business.

But when approval of the planned development required planting of trees not only on the south side but also the east side facing Campbell, the landowner balked because future tenants might not want the trees.

The landowner was willing to plant trees on the south side to buffer the residential area there.

In turning down the request, the commission wrote that the development "will not result in a development that is more creative and imaginative than is generally possible under conventional zoning regulations" and that it could discern "no benefit to the public to allow an increase in intensity of use," in the area.

The lot is south of Lipscomb-Mitsubishi's car lot, which Lowther said is typical of businesses on Campbell because it has street-fronting displays of motor vehicles. He didn't understand why one more business would make a difference; however, Lowther agreed to work with the city on a compromise before the bill comes up for a vote again in two weeks.

Two residents of the Erie Street subdivision whose land bounds the Lipscomb parking lot complained to council that they are flooded by water pouring from the paved area. Council agreed to look into the matter.

Cemetery and dogs

In other business, council approved an ordinance that makes it unlawful to bring pets, except assistance dogs, into Hazel-wood Cemetery without prior approval.

Council also authorized City Manager Tom Finnie to apply for and accept a Local Law Enforcement Block Grant from the United States Department of Justice, to help fund computers and printers for the Southside District Police Station.

The program will cost $165,921, with the grant to cover $149,329.

Police cars

A bill to allow police officers to take home their service vehicles to create a police presence in high-crime neighborhoods came up for reading and initially raised some questions among council members.

Council expressed concern that in the future the chief of police would be able to designate where the cars would be placed.

However, City Attorney Howard Wright assured council that such placement would be considered "policy," to be set by Council, not the chief of police.

A substitute bill to approve the preliminary plat of Fassnight Meadows, north of Linwood Drive between Fort and Thelma was approved, although Plan-ning & Zoning recommended denial.

The substitute bill was offered after the developer agreed to offer condominiums for sale in the area to be developed, instead of offering them as rental units.