Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Tourism Zone topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council votes to advertise public hearing on removing tourism zone after heated debate
Summary
Following extensive debate over the tourism-zone ordinance's utility, administrative burden and grant implications, the council voted to direct staff to advertise a public hearing and prepare an ordinance to remove the tourism zone from town code; members questioned staff costs and whether a hearing should precede ordinance drafting.
Council members debated whether to remove the town's tourism zone — an administrative tool created in 2012 that can provide tax incentives, expedited approvals and access to tourism grants — or keep it available as a potential revitalization tool.
Proponents of removal argued the ordinance had not been used in 13 years, could be an administrative headache and might result in unnecessary staff time and expense to implement and monitor. Opponents and advisory-committee representatives said the tourism zone is a low-cost tool that can support downtown revitalization and access to grants and urged the council to retain it while considering updates.
Council members questioned whether staff should draft an ordinance before public input; one member proposed removing the direction to draft the ordinance and holding a public-input session first, but the original motion (to direct staff to advertise a public hearing and present an ordinance for Council consideration on Jan. 13) remained and was approved.
Council members also asked about the cost of advertising and legal-review fees; staff estimated advertising might cost a few hundred dollars and legal fees could be several hundred per hour for ordinance preparation.
The council approved a motion to direct staff to advertise a public hearing and prepare an ordinance describing tourism-zone removal to be presented at a January meeting.
