City Council adopts Kettle rezoning plan

Residents voice concerns at meeting before change OK’d

City Council Monday adopted an ordinance rezoning 10 parcels on the north side of Kettle Street from single-household residential to mixed commercial-residential, despite concerns expressed by several residents.

The vote was 5-1 for a change that will simplify the zoning between Grant and Baltzell avenues, while enabling businesses to start up there without obtaining a variance -- but without compromising the "integrity" of the already mixed residential-commercial neighborhood, members of the majority said.

Council should have waited until after completion of the recently started comprehensive plan to make such a change, as part of an expected full city zoning review, said Councilman Bruce Kelley, who cast the dissenting vote.

Uses that will be newly permitted include retail sales and services, professional and business offices and professional service sites -- although all will be limited in scope.

The new rules would also allow low-rise apartments, which could include low-income housing, which is a concern, said Charles Gillespie, who lives on the other side of Kettle.

The neighborhood business zoning that is on that side of the street already allows low-rise apartments, said Rebecca Brown, director of the Department of Codes & Inspections.

Gillespie asked: Why not then make the north side also neighborhood business, so the two sides will match?

The neighborhood business on the south side is actually more lenient and would allow some uses that might not be ideal for the area, such as overnight lodging and eateries, Brown said.

Her answers seemed to satisfy Gillespie.

The city shouldn't make any zoning change on Kettle "until a lot of other things are done," Kettle Street resident Rebecca Mentzer told council.

Mentzer spoke of a road that is "torn up," speeding trucks, racing on Sundays, sidewalks damaged by plows and a school bus stop located next to a bar.

"I stand fully against (the change)," Mentzer said.

Members of the audience clapped.

"I second (that)," said one member.

"I third it," said another.

"What's the point?" asked Jerome Smith, who lives on East Street, citing council's simplification argument. "It doesn't make sense to me."

Simpler zoning can help lead to investment, because there's fewer complications for owners to deal with, said Councilman Dave Ellis.

The old map had five distinct zones along Kettle, which didn't make sense to him, Ellis said.

"I don't think much will change," said Matt Conrad, who owns a transmission shop on the rezoned stretch.

Ellis agreed with that.

"We're trying to maintain the neighborhood as it is," he told Smith, noting that there is already a business on each of the four blocks where the change is taking place.

Councilman Joe Carper was absent.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.