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Paris City Council approves multiple rezoning requests, fee changes and budget amendments
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Summary
The Paris City Council on Sept. 23 approved several zoning changes — including requests for businesses and housing — adopted permit and water/sewer tap fee updates to comply with new state law, and approved PEDC budget amendments totaling $629,757; a special meeting was set to continue the city manager search.
The Paris City Council on Sept. 23 approved a series of zoning changes, amended permit and tap fees to align with state law and adopted budget adjustments for the Paris Economic Development Corporation, while scheduling a special meeting to continue selection of a firm to run the city manager search.
The council approved a rezoning request to allow an income tax office at 3206 (Bonham/Bottom) for applicant Lisa Short after planning staff and the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval. Lisa Short told the council she has operated the business at that location for more than three decades and asked not to be forced to relocate. Attorney Jessica Nation Holtman, representing Short, told the council there is underlying litigation with a neighbor and urged members to consider how complaints coincided with that litigation. Neighbor Kim McCann opposed the change, saying the neighborhood wants to remain residential and raising parking and safety concerns. The city attorney advised the petition submitted by opponents was not sufficient to require a supermajority, and council members voted to approve the ordinance.
Council also approved James O’Brien’s rezoning application to bring his salon into conformance with the city’s comp plan. O’Brien said the change was sought to protect his tenant and the neighborhood; the council noted a petition in that case did carry enough signatures to require a supermajority, and the measure passed with the required votes.
Other zoning actions approved included a change to allow a duplex for James Martinez at 4315 Pine Mill Road after discussion about the site’s context and the future land‑use map; approval to permit a four‑unit building at 2508 East Price; and multi‑parcel changes for property owned by Michael Hall to facilitate sale and financing.
On fees, staff explained recent state law requires fee calculations no longer be based on project valuation. The council adopted code amendments that move residential permitting fees to a square‑foot basis and adjusted the base permit fee (the packet shows a proposed increase from $20 to $35) and related tap charges to conform with the legislative change.
On finance items, the director of finance presented an annual housekeeping ordinance authorizing transfers from unencumbered appropriations to over‑expended accounts for FY2019–2020; the council approved the transfers. The Paris Economic Development Corporation budget amendments were presented by the PEDC representative, who said the changes shift $14,000 from administration to personnel, clarify debt service for the Southwest Business Park and American Bridal loans, and add project line items (American Bridal $450,000; Southwest Business Park $85,000) for a total reported amendment of $629,757. Council voted to adopt the PEDC amendments.
Votes at a glance: • Item 14 — Rezoning (Lisa Short, 3206 Bonham/Bottom): approved; petition insufficient to require supermajority (city attorney finding). • Item 11 — Rezoning (James O’Brien, 3150 Bottom/32nd): approved (supermajority required and met). • Item 12 — Rezoning (James Martinez, 4315 Pine Mill Rd): approved. • Item 13 — Rezoning (Kenneth Doherty / quadplex, 2508 East Price): approved. • Items 15–16 — Michael Hall parcels (multifamily / 2F adjustments): approved. • Item 17 — Amend permit and water/sewer tap fees to conform with state law: approved (packet notes base permit change from $20 to $35). • Item 18 — Transfers from unencumbered appropriations for FY2019–2020: approved. • Item 19 — PEDC budget amendments (total $629,757): approved.
The council did not award a contract for the city manager recruitment tonight; instead members agreed to schedule a special meeting to hear three remaining firms and to take advantage of upcoming municipal conferences for candidate outreach. The meeting adjourned after brief future‑events notices.
Who said what (selection): Lisa Short told the council, “I’ve been there 32 years … I help a lot of people out in the community.” Attorney Jessica Nation Holtman said opponents’ complaints largely coincided with active litigation and urged the council to “take that into consideration.” Kim McCann said the neighborhood “wants it to remain residential” and asked that the petition be denied “with prejudice.” James O’Brien said the changes defend his tenant and highlighted small businesses’ contribution to sales tax. Council attributions in this article are to named speakers or, where names are not given in the transcript, to “a council member” or the functional role used in the meeting record.
What’s next: The council approved the listed ordinances and budget changes; a special meeting to continue city manager search firm presentations was tentatively scheduled for Sept. 30 so that the city can participate in October municipal conferences and move promptly on a recruitment decision.
