(Spencer)– The north end of Grand Avenue will keep its residential feel, thanks to the Spencer city council.
The council voted six-to-one Monday evening to deny a request by three property owners along Grand Avenue to rezone their property from residential to commercial. The three properties include the First English Lutheran Church, the Colonial Apartments owned by Joyce Fear and property owned by Dennis and Roland Zylstra.
Prior to the vote, the council heard from 20 people on both sides of the issue during a public hearing. Dick Montgomery, a Grand Avenue homeowner, presented the council with a petition signed by 70 residents living in the area that are opposed to the rezoning. He says Grand Avenue has a historic value and should be protected.
Beth Wethor also lives on Grand Avenue. She says they wouldn’t have purchased their home 10 years ago if they knew their neighborhood could be turned into a commercial area.
On the other side of the issue is the daughter of the woman who owns the Colonial Apartment building. Jean Tennant of Everly told the council they have a special exception use under the current zoning, which means they could no longer use the property for the same use should the current building be damaged more than 50 percent by fire or natural disaster. She says they live in constant fear of something like that happening.
Sid Fitch of the First English Lutheran Church warned the council of a negative connotation they’ll be sending to the business community by turning down the rezoning request.
After two hours of public comment and discussion, the council voted six-to-one to deny the rezoning request. Councilman Ed Krebs was the only one to support the rezoning.
(Story from Danielle Hitchings of sister station KUYY in Spencer.).
Copyright GCI all rights reserved. Unauthorized publication or broadcast of this material is strictly prohibited.
