By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
MELVINDALE – City Attorney Lawrence Coogan said at the Oct. 2 City Council meeting he is drafting ordinance wording designed to limit variety and small box store proliferation within the city.
The proposed amendment, which would affect Article 4, Section 24-166 of the city ordinances, would address the permitted density distribution of businesses commonly referred to as dollar stores. The first reading of a proposed ordinance could occur at the Oct. 16 council meeting.
Coogan said the proposed ordinance will address concerns expressed by council members, Mayor Stacy Bazman and Building Department Official Brad Burns.
Bazman said a recent residential survey, which posed questions on different topics— including ideas for the former Palmer School site — asked residents the type of design changes they would like to see for the downtown district. She said it yielded insightful, actionable responses.
“I am really excited to see down the road what they come up with, and how we can assist with that and do some things, because I think that, ultimately, if we can basically rework some of those buildings, we can also maybe expand our ordinances that you can’t have buildings just for storage, not downtown,” Bazman said.
(Sue Suchyta can be reached at [email protected])