New London Council debates zoning permits, reluctantly approves them

BY KARYN SPORY

Mt. Pleasant News

NEW LONDON ? Zoning permits sparked both heated debate and a long, uncomfortable silence from the New London City Council Tuesday night.

Out of a list of six permit applications, half of the possible building projects were met with extensive conversation.

Two of the debated zoning permits came from Jim Cordes Motors, which is located at 200 E. Main Street.

Cordes sought to make a building addition and place a fence around the property.

The debate was two-fold and stemmed from Councilman Tom Davis. Davis? first concern was motorists being able to see around the fence when attempting to turn from Elm Street onto Main Street.

Cordes assured the council the fence would not be butting up against the sidewalk, instead, it would be 30 feet back from the sidewalk. ?I will not be blocking anyone coming up and down the street,? he said.

However, Davis? biggest complaint with Cordes wasn?t with the application. ?I have one other question for you, why has work already started on this project when the permit has not been issued,? Davis asked to Cordes and the board.

Councilman Kirk Miller jumped in, saying only the posts had been set in an effort to ?beat the freeze.? ?We didn?t do our job at the last meeting,? added Miller, reminding the council and audience members that building permits for both Cordes and Jack Waterman had been on the December agenda, but no action was taken on either.

Councilman Dan Berner urged his fellow board members towards making a decision by stating Cordes was attempting to improve his building and bring more business to New London. ?Yes, he set posts,? Berner said, as Davis jumped in, reminding the council the posts were set without a permit. ?But,? Berner continued, ?there?s a heck of a lot of other people that have done all of it before (seeking a permit).?

?So why do we have ordinances?? asked Davis. ?I?m voting no because if you don?t have a permit you can go ahead and build? Why does someone else have to go by the rules and he (Cordes) doesn?t have to go by the rules,? asked Davis.

Berner followed up by stating the city doesn?t have much in the way of repercussions for those who build without a permit, which was an item the council would address later in the evening.

As for Cordes and his two zoning permit applications, they were approved by a vote of 3-2, with Davis and Greg Malott casting ?nay? votes.

Jack Waterman was looking to build a Morton building on his property at 305 N. Maple Street. During the December council meeting, several members of the council stated they were not thrilled with the prospect of a Morton building being constructed within city limits. Other council members were concerned the building and property would be used for commercial use, although it?s within a residential zone. And council members said neighbors who stated they feared a Morton building would decrease the property value of the area had approached them.

The item was tabled so the council could take a better look at the matter, including if there was any legal way they could deny the application.

After a month of mulling it over, and a heated debate moments before about Cordes? permits, Waterman?s application was met with stark silence.

?I?m not going to squabble over this,? Waterman finally said after assuring the council that, indeed, the building would be used as a residence and the home portion of the building would be half of the total square footage. ?I?ll sell the property and go somewhere else and build.?

Although the council stated they were not personally for the style of building, there was nothing currently in the city?s code that would refrain from a Morton building being constructed.

?Jack, I?ll be quite honest with you, if I lived next door I wouldn?t want (this constructed), I see what the neighbors are saying,? said Davis. ?But we have to go by the laws and the rules, and if we want that in the future, we?re going to have to put it in the ordinances. You need an answer and you?ve been nothing but patient and a true gentlemen.?

With that, Waterman?s building permit was approved with a 4-1 vote, with Frank Staley casting the lone ?no? vote.

The council agreed work needs to be done on the city?s code and ordinances. The council is looking to schedule a work session in the future to address zoning codes as well as action the city can take if someone builds before a permit is issued.

Other building permits approved were for Care Initiatives adding a panel sign at 100 Care Circle. Bonnie Cooper, at 303 N. Pine Street will be putting up a vinyl fence and Rodger Wagner, at 506 W. Madison Street, will be constructing a garage.

More information from Tuesday night?s council meeting will be published in Thursday?s News.

The next meeting of the New London City Council will be held Tuesday, Feb. 2, at 5:30 p.m., at City Hall.