Council okays 3 comp plan changes; denies fourth

The Council Monday night reject a proposal to change zoning of one section which would have made residential structures in that area conforming uses, rather than non-conforming. Some saw the proposed change as a creating buffer between the Port's shipping area and the residential Cap Sante neighborhood. Others saw the proposal as limiting the Port's shipping activities.

Port Executive Director Bob Hyde testified Monday night that "We do a lot of competitive shipping. We try to be good neighbors, but we need to be competitive." He saw the area as a buffer with the Cap Sante neighborhood.

But, K.B. Smith testified that the homes and small businesses in the area are a buffer now. "If it goes away will be no buffer. This issue will come back." He urged the Council to approve the proposal.

During Council discussion, Council member Bill Turner said, "I don't want to make housing a conforming use there. That will create new expectations and will create more problems."

Council member Cynthia Richardson, a resident of the Cap Sante, urged approval of the proposal, saying, "Having these 2 zones (manufacturing and residential) next to each is lousy planning. There has never been anything but houses in this area." Richardson was the only Council member to vote to approve the proposal.

The Council did approve three other proposals Monday night, including new restrictions on signs, tent structures, cargo containers on city streets and a proposal to make some public facilities like churches, plant nurseries and clinics conditional uses if applied for in the future in the commercial zone.