Zoning regulations not a done deal yet
By SUSAN MARSHALL
News editor
Florence City Council members heard Nov. 20 from planning and zoning chairman Sarah Cope that her committee had revised the proposed zoning regulations following a community meeting earlier in the month.
According to Cope two changes were made. The first provides a "grandfather" clause for business owners who choose to use a downtown building as a warehouse. If the building currently is used as a warehouse facility, it may remain so designated. However, future building owners will not be allowed to use downtown buildings in that manner.
A second change states that sexually-oriented businesses must be situated in a sexually-oriented entertainment district. No city may refuse to allow such a business to locate within its environs, but a city may create a special district in which to allow such a business to exist.
Cope said the next step for the council is to meet with the zoning committee and review the final regulations.
Councilman Randy Mills noted the meeting would be open to the public, but public participation would not be allowed.
Florence resident Gary Nesser asked if it would be possible to present the council and committee with signed petitions from community members unhappy with the new zoning rules. Mills indicated city clerk Darla Gore would need to check with legal counsel to be certain, but he thought city council members would be able to accept the petitions.
The new zoning regulation book will be available for review at the city building. Additional maps of zoning changes also will be made available there.
In other business, the council:
— discussed a plan to annex land owned by the state along U.S.-50 from the former Ireland gas station to the water tower. The city has received a quit claim deed from the state and is awaiting legal advice on the next step. Gore was instructed to get additional information.
— heard a request from Kimberly Kingsley to retract a fine levied against her for moving a mobile home onto a lot without a permit. The mobile home was constructed in 1994, and meets city codes. Council members voted to allow the fine to stand. Kingsley was instructed to have the property surveyed to establish proper boundaries and follow the ordinance for mobile homes with proper hookups, skirting, and tie-downs.
— reviewed some expenses in the city budget. According to Mills, council members should be prepared to revise the 2006 budget because a number of the items for which council had allotted funds will not be attainable. After discussion, council agreed to have city superintendent Phil Baldwin bring to the next meeting information on the purchase of a pickup truck for the city. They also agreed to make budget revisions after the first of the year.
— agreed to again retain Knudson and Monroe as city auditors.
— heard from acting chief of police Erik King a vandalized fire hydrant had been repainted by the person responsible.
— approved a request for the Christmas decorating committee to take small cedar trees from the area west of Kimball to put into the downtown planters.
— requested Baldwin check the gravity flow system at the water plant to see why Chuck DeForest can no longer get water unless the pumps are running.
— went into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel. No action was taken on return to open meeting.
