(Spirit Lake)—The resignation of one member and the absence of another barely left the Spirit Lake city council with a quorum to conduct business at its meeting last (Tues.) evening.
Two zoning issues took center stage. The first dealt with the proposed rezoning of some property at 1412 Hill Avenue from multi-family residential to general commercial, to allow for a vacant home there to be converted to a flower shop. A motion to approve an agreement containing stipulations for the proposed rezoning died for lack of a second. Several who either live in that area or own property there expressed concern over parking during a public hearing on the matter. Councilman Kevin Bice expressed concern over stipulations in the agreement, saying they defeat the purpose of the city’s zoning ordinance…(click here for comment.) “If we keep making special exceptions, how strong is that zoning ordinance, the booklet?”
The other zoning issue was over a proposal to rezone some south of Alliant Energy and north of 23rd Street. The owners, Berkley and Elinor Bedell, have requested the area be re-zoned to allow for an R-V park. The city’s Zoning Commission voted recently to recommend the council deny the request. Fred Dowden, a realtor who’s handling the proposed sale of the property on behalf of the Bedells, questioned the reasoning behind that recommendation…(click here for comment.) “It was primarily turned down because they thought it was an inappropriate use across the street from a piece of property that’s going to be zoned residential, that is zoned residential, and will be developed residentially. I think I would tell you that we have a situation in Spirit Lake where there is a residential area that is bordered by an RV court. It’s called Cenla and Center Lake Heights.”
A resident who lives in the area of the proposed R-V park expressed concern over aesthetics and the possible impact it could have on neighboring property values…(click here for comment.) “We could have a situation where you would have 75 potential RV’s sitting there, all different qualities, different vintage years, sitting there all winter long, snow’s not being plowed, kind of more that an eyesore, you know, than anything.”
A motion to send the issue back to the Planning and Zoning Commission died for lack of a second.
How to fill a vacancy on the council created with the abrupt resignation of Steve Balm was also discussed. Balm submitted his resignation in a one sentence letter dated March 22nd, saying he was stepping down immediately. The letter didn’t say why, and Balm wasn’t at last (Tues.) evening’s meeting. City Attorney Earl Maahs told the council they could fill the seat either by appointing someone or by holding a special election. The city would need to publicize any intent to appoint someone, if it decides to go that route. A member of the public could then petition for a special election if they would be opposed to an appointment. The council will take up how to fill the vacancy at its next regular meeting. Any appointment would serve up until the next election, at which point they would have the option to run for a full term.
