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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974 12-11 Council okays first reading of Beam ave. rezoning plan REVIEW oka s first reading Council wait, y g of Beam ave. rezoning plan by Dennis Johnson asked the city staff to look into contract While the disagreement still exists over zoning for the area,but last week the idea rezoning the south side of Beam ave.,the was rejected since the Minnesota Maplewood city council passed the first Supreme Court has yet to make a decision readings of two ordinances—which may on the legality of this type of zoning. eventually affect Beam ave. — at its The disagreement also stems from the meeting last Thursday. present zoning classifications. "The The first ordinance will allow business- single classification of business- commercial zoning with an overlay, a commercial is ruining us," councilman method to eliminate certain types of uses Donald Wiegert said. Greavu's solution in a general zone classification. In this was to zone the area business commercial area, the councilmen would like to but with some restrictions, but City prevent fast-food restaurants and used- Manager Michael Miller and City At- car lots. torney Donald Lais explained that would The second ordinance will provide a be conditional zoning, which is illegal. new zone classification, commercial- The portion of Beam ave. involved lies office district, which is similar to the west of White Bear ave. and east of High- present light business commercial zone, way 61. except that it doesn't allow certain uses The planning commission is presently such as the used car lot.Both ordinances revising the city's zoning classifications. received 4-1 votes with councilman John It was hoped that the new classifications Greavu dissenting each time. would be ready by the end of the year,but New ordinances must have two public that date is now impossible. readings before becoming law. The The Commercial-Office district controversy over Beam ave. goes back to presented to the council is one of the 1970 when the street, sewer and water reforms.The zone is designed to separate improvements were made. 1974 residential and more intensive uses. assessments for $191.96 per front foot The preliminary draft of the zone were estimated,but another$40 has been states, "Commercial-Office district is added to that figure. established primarily to provide areas for Because of the high assessments,which the development of professional and some of the property owners can't afford administrative offices, . . . low intensity to pay,the council was asked to rezone the commercial uses in locations in close area so the assessments costs could be proximity to residential areas." recovered.But finding a suitable zone has Permitted uses include professional, brought delays. administrative, financial and medical The city is paying $180,000 a year for and dental offices, banks and other interest on the $3 million assessments, commercial uses. Jack Desai, 1855 E. Kenwood, told the Whether the new zoning ordinances will council. City clerk Lucille Aurelius ex- help the people on Beam ave., only time plained that the city is paying seven and future meetings will tell. In the percent interest on the loan that has been meantime, Greavu summed up his bonded three times. feelings over the matter, "We're chasing At the Nov. 14 meeting, Mayor Bruton our tails again."