Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Downtown renter warns EDA redevelopment could remove parking and block VA access
Summary
Rebecca TC, a renter and business owner at 600 East Park Avenue, told the council that county GIS lines differ from a 2015 plat and that a planned Economic Development Authority (EDA) redevelopment could eliminate four parking spaces (two handicapped) and restrict a loading/side entrance used for VA-contracted services.
Rebecca TC, who identified herself as a renter and business owner representing TC Aiology, urged the City Council to review historic deeds and survey lines before the Economic Development Authority proceeds with planned development that she said will redraw property lines and eliminate street-side green space and parking used by her storefront.
"On Google Maps ... you can see where the green space and the alleyway ... is all intended to be one alleyway piece," Rebecca told the council, describing what she said were differences between a 2015 plat map and current county GIS parcel lines. She said the change would remove "four valuable parking spaces due to property lines and garbage relocation, two of which are handicapped." (Rebecca TC, public comment.)
Rebecca said her business serves veterans under VA contracts and that the side entrance and adjacent parking are included in those contracts. "I see upwards of 60 people per week that use this door, including the elderly and veterans from the VA," she said, pressing council members and staff to reconcile the conflicting plats and coordinate with the county and the EDA.
Council members asked clarifying questions about how much space would be needed to maintain access and maintenance operations. Rebecca said the 2015 plat would provide the needed sidewalk and loading corridor and asked the city to work with county staff to "thoughtfully restructure these lines to reflect the 10 years of use and to ensure that the current survey is correct." She left maps with staff for follow-up.
The mayor and city staff noted a public meeting on the EDA project and advised the council to review recently obtained historical documents and deed restrictions before a detailed discussion. Staff also said the matter could be taken up at an upcoming public forum/workshop to give all parties more time to review the property records.
Next steps: staff and council directed follow-up with the county and EDA and to review the documents Rebecca provided before scheduling additional council action or a workshop.
