Neighbors of Jones development pack chambers

Neighbors in an area near a proposed retail development packed council chambers June 7 to show their opposition to the development.

Council held a public hearing on the proposed rezoning of 13 of 26 acres owned by Jerry Jones.

The tract is situated on the north side of the 1800-2100 blocks of East Republic Road, near the James River Towne Center, also one of Jones' developments.

The public hearing covered three bills, one bill and two substitutes, each with different requirements of the developer. The original bill contained the least restrictions five while the first substitute contained seven. The second substitute contained more conditions, 11 in all, and asked that they be completed within three years.

Jud Heflin, who represents Jones' Blue Star Investments, said the developer has had detailed discussions with the residents and is agreeable to the 11 conditions.

"That's a pretty extensive list of conditions. We've been working to accommodate them as we hear them. ... Of course, you can't appease everybody, but we've tried to address as many concerns as we can," Heflin said.

Among the conditions required of the developer are that a middle turning lane be added to Republic Road between the Glenstone-Republic intersection and the westernmost driveway to the developer's property, and that additional right of way be dedicated on Republic.

The owner also has to construct a sidewalk and restrict access to Republic Road from its development to no more than one point per 250 feet.

The entrance to the development is to have a traffic signal, and Republic has to be improved to five lanes from Glenstone west.

Other traffic-calming measures, and a pedestrian crossing, are also contained in the second substitute.

One condition the developer would not be amenable to is that of a restriction on the size of any building that can be built on the property.

During the June 7 meeting, Councilwoman Teri Hacker asked if the developer would restrict the size of building allowed on the development to 80,000 square feet.

Heflin said that would not be acceptable to the developer.

"Placing that size restriction on it eliminates many good, quality users. That would be too much restriction," Heflin said.

Though many residents who addressed the issue, and some council members, mentioned a "Sam's Club-type development," going on the land, Heflin said the zoning was prospective and that there were no definitive plans for such a wholesale store.

Retail zoning is a more flexible zoning than the office zoning the property is currently under, Heflin said.

"We want this zoning to give us the maximum flexibility of use for the property," he said.

Several residents spoke in opposition to the rezoning, which first came before the Planning and Zoning Commission in November of 1998. The commission voted 7-2 to recommend that council pass the proposal.

Among those opposed were resident Jim Cantrell, who said he was "opposed to all three proposals," and Arlen Diamond, also a neighbor, who suggested that the developer was being compelled to change this area's zoning because space is running short in the James River Towne Center for new tenants.

"What is a compelling reason to change zoning? The James River Center is running out of lots ..." Diamond said.

In other zoning matters, council held a first reading on a bill to rezone two acres on the southeast corner of Campbell Avenue and Walnut Lawn Street.

The property, owned by John Youngblood, will be used to expand the Youngblood used-car sales lot already on the property.

Council also held a first reading on a proposal to issue a use permit for adaptive reuse of a non-residential structure in a residential district as a professional office in a single-family residential district.

The property, at 1000 W. Mount Vernon St., will be purchased and adapted for use as a law office by attorney Stacie Bilyeu, who has a contract to purchase the building from Richard and Marilyn Bilyeu.

City Council was able to vote on the bill, and passed it by a vote of 7-0 (Councilman Tom Carlson was absent from the meeting).

In its final action of the night, council held a first reading on the yearly salary ordinance for city employees. The ordinance contains a total increase in city salaries of 4.75 percent, said Tom Finnie, city manager.

The city will apply 2.75 percent of that 4.75 percent to overall pay increases, while the remaining 2 percent will be for step increases, adjustments in occupational series and benefits increases.

For the third consecutive year, members of the local firefighters and police unions rallied for increases in pension benefits. Representatives of each union appeared before council to state their cases. Council will vote on the ordinance in two weeks.

[[In-content Ad]]