Minutes 01/26/1988 - Laserfiche WebLink

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1988 present residential usage; and, too, the legal requirements involved as to public hearings and like procedures. Mentioned, also, was the prospect for widening and realigning this street from Starling Avenue to Fairy Street and the effect thereof, if so realigned and widened, upon the abutting properties and projected usage. Meanwhile, referring specifically to the property rezoning petition filed by Miss English, Councilman Cole presented in writing his questions, comments and suggestions, generally as follows: Much has been written and, I am sure, a great deal of time has been spent considering this request .... by all of us, including the petitioner. I have struggled to look at the proposal (including the Land Use Plan's projected usage as well as proposed revisions thereto) from all points of view. And, I assure you that I respect the (projected) Land Use Plan because it is a part of our Comprehensive Plan; however, it may well be that the boundaries of the present Land Use Plan are keeping us from solving this problem. But, what is the problem? The problem is that a property owner in the City of Martinsville (Miss Jane English) has a residential apartment (among her other residentially-zoned properties within the area) which has been vacant for ~ X.~r. Recently, she had the opportunity torent t'h'i's apartmen't space for professional use but could not because of its present zoning classification; thus, she filed, as is her option, her petition seeking a professional zoning for all of her properties identified as 502-514 East Church Street. If one looks at the outward appearance of Miss English's five (5) houses (for which she isseeking the rezontng), it seems obvious that their future as residences is limited. Furthermore, the same traffic problems in the area, as already mentioned, certainly will be a deterrent to attracting families with children. Accordingly; it seems to me, the City should try to help the property owner solve the problem, as this comes within our responsibility of looking out for the City's interest. The only solution that we have at hand is to allow the buildings to be used for professional purposes, with the hope that they will be upgraded much like the "face-lifting" which has been going on for several years along Starling Avenue. (This is one way of preserving and possibly enhancing the City's tax base).