(Milford)– The Milford city council had a change of heart Monday evening and voted four-to-nothing to approve a rezoning request from D & W Development.
Council member Detlef Ball was absent from the meeting.
The council took the action after hearing more detailed plans for the property in question at the corner of seventh street and Okoboji Avenue. The information was presented by Matt McHugh who represented United Community Bank and D & W Development. He told the council the building D & W Development proposes to build would house offices and/or light retail. McHugh said United Community Bank is expanding, and has expressed interest in purchasing the building that currently houses the Lakes News Shopper. He said the bank has already purchased another neighboring building that houses Pioneer Transport. McHugh says the bank would then tear down the two buildings to make way for a parking lot. In the meantime, he said the shopper has been talking with D & W about the possibility of relocating its offices to the new building they want to construct. McHugh added the D & W project in no way hinges on the bank project, though.
After further discussion, the council voted to approve the request to rezone the property from residential to arterial commercial with the stipulation the new building to be constructed house only offices or light retail.
Some neighbors still expressed concern over light retail, but after hearing it would not include operations such as repair shops, the concern seemed to ease.
After voting to amend the zoning ordinance to grant the change, the council then voted to waive the second and third readings, and the measure passed. A written letter from D & W Development acknowledging they’ll limit the operations to offices or light retail must be received by the city before the amended zoning is published and goes into effect.
Council members voted just last week to deny the rezoning, saying they didn’t have enough information. The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended approval.
