Economic and Development Committee approves rezoning, CDBG reallocation and demolition loan; denies one liquor license

The Economic and Development Committee voted on six agenda items affecting zoning, community development funding, property demolition financing and retail alcohol licenses.

The committee approved an ordinance to amend limited-use criteria for automotive uses and moved forward an ordinance to rezone property in the 6900 block of West Orchard Street from RC (residential) to C-2 (commercial). The committee also approved a resolution reallocating $250,926 in Community Development Block Grant COVID (CDBG-CV) funds and approved an allocation of up to $1,000,000 to the Community Development Authority (CDA) to raise and remove structures at 1405 South 90 Second Street. The committee denied a new Class A liquor license application for 9730 West Greenfield Avenue by a 3–2 vote; that denial will be forwarded to the full common council. Separately, the committee approved a new Class A beer and cigarette license for Cal Services at 10731 West Oklahoma Avenue.

Why it matters: the actions free or reallocate money for redevelopment work and affect neighborhood retail alcohol availability. The $1,000,000 allocation is intended as a short-term city loan to allow demolition to proceed while a private developer finalizes long-term financing for a redevelopment project.

Demolition loan and CDA financing A committee member summarized the CDA loan as a short-term financing tool to permit demolition to proceed before a private developer’s long-term financing is in place. “This is the demo of the church,” the committee member said, explaining that developers sometimes delay demolition until all financing is secured and that delay could postpone the project timeline by many months. The committee member described the proposed arrangement as a short-term loan from the city to the CDA that would be repaid once the developer secures financing and noted the CDA would charge interest; a committee member added the developer would pay interest “plus 1%.” The committee approved the allocation up to $1,000,000.

Rezoning and outdoor smoker/trailer discussion Committee members discussed a rezoning request for property in the 6900 block of West Orchard Street and a related plan to operate a smoker on site. Planning and building/code staff cautioned that whether the smoker and its enclosure are subject to commercial building code depends on whether the smoker is permanently attached to the ground or remains on a trailer. A staff member identified as Dan, described the difference this way: if the unit remains a trailer, it is treated like a food trailer and not subject to the commercial building code; if it becomes a fixed structure, the walls and openings near property lines would need to meet fire-rated construction requirements and the smoker would need to be indoors within that structure. Committee members and the applicant discussed locating the trailer on a paved stall, sealing the base of the shed to exclude animals, and using a Knox box or other access for emergency responders. The rezoning ordinance passed.

CDBG-CV reallocation The committee approved a resolution reallocating $250,926 in leftover CDBG-CV funds to uses permitted under the CDBG-CV award. A committee member said the funds were already included in the original awarded budget and the reallocation updates line-item assignments; the member noted the funds must be used for COVID-related eligible activities. The resolution passed unanimously.

Licenses: Sunny Liquor denied; Cal Services approved The committee considered two retail license applications. For 9730 West Greenfield Avenue (97 30 Enterprises LLC d/b/a Sunny Liquor, agent Jatinder Carr), Ald. comments noted multiple existing liquor and tobacco retailers within the area and the alder moved to deny the application; the committee voted 3–2 to deny the license in committee. Committee members said the matter will be decided by the full common council at a later date. For 10731 West Oklahoma Avenue (Cal Services, agent Calum Begg), the committee approved a Class A beer and cigarette license; the applicant said the location is a convenience store/gas station and that the business operator runs several locations.

Votes at a glance - Item 25: Ordinance to amend limited-use criteria for automotive uses — outcome: approved (committee voice vote: ayes have it). - Item 26: Ordinance to rezone property in the 6900 block of West Orchard Street from RC to C-2 — outcome: approved (committee voice vote: ayes have it). Discussion focused on whether a smoker would be treated as a trailer (treated like a food trailer) or a fixed structure (subject to commercial building code). - Item 27: Resolution to reallocate CDBG-CV funds in the amount of $250,926 — outcome: approved (committee voice vote: ayes have it). - Item 28: Resolution to approve allocation of up to $1,000,000 to the Community Development Authority to raise and remove structures at 1405 South 90 Second Street (agreement with F Street 90 Second LLC) — outcome: approved (committee voice vote: ayes have it). Committee member said the loan is short-term and will be repaid when the developer secures financing; interest will be charged. - Item 29: New Class A liquor license for 97 30 Enterprises LLC d/b/a Sunny Liquor, 9730 West Greenfield Avenue (agent Jatinder Carr) — outcome: motion to deny passed 3–2 in committee; will proceed to full common council. - Item 30: New Class A beer and cigarette license for Cal Services, 10731 West Oklahoma Avenue (agent Calum Begg) — outcome: approved (committee voice vote: ayes have it).

What’s next: All items that passed in committee will proceed according to standard administrative processes; the denied liquor license will be considered by the full common council. The committee adjourned after completing its agenda.