(Spirit Lake)– A proposal to rezone four lots in what’s known as “Schlichte’s First Addition” in Spirit Lake from R-1 to R-3 multi-family residential has some neighbors up in arms. They spoke out against the proposal at a public hearing at Tuesday’s Spirit Lake city council meeting. They’re concerned the development would diminish their property values and that increased traffic would pose a safety threat to children and pets. They’re worried the developer, Vasquez Development, may put up buildings with multiple stories. However, a representative with Vasquez Development told the crowd the only plans they have are for single-story units. But some residents say they’re still opposed to the proposal. They fear that if one of the units should be destroyed, that the R-3 zoning would allow for something other than that to be built there.
After considerable discussion, it was the concensus of council members that they want to see more-detailed plans on paper before acting on the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation to rezone the property. They deferred action on the matter to their next meeting.
In other business, the council voted to grant parking permits for 14 apartments in the Antlers Building for 15 years for the parking lot east of the Antlers Building; approved a revision to city code for permit parking in the downtown parking lots. It calls for an annual parking permit fee of 75-dollars payable in advance of July 1st of each year for parking for the fiscal year ending each June 30th. A 25-dollar fee will be charged for each application. Flagrant abuse of the permit parking space will result in a permit being terminated. The proposal was approved on a four-to-one vote with councilman Jerry Harbst casting the no vote.
The council reviewed the city’s audit; and they took a look at an engineer’s report on a proposal to install sanitary sewer that would serve a 720-acre development on the city’s southeast side. Cost for construction has been estimated at 1.3 million dollars. Several council members expressed a desire in getting the sewer put in to accomodate future development in that area, but how to pay for it will be an issue. They authorized the Howard R. Green Engineering firm to do a study looking at possible financing options, including the possibility of using revenue bonds from the city’s sewer fund. That could result in an increase in sewer rates.
The council also approved spending slightly more than four thousand dollars to repair fences at the little league fields. They took no action on a request to upgrade a restroom at the Little League park to meet handicap accessability requirements. The cost is estimated at more than 10-thousand dollars.
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