CITY
BRIEFS
House on Decatur Street to be city fast-track demolition
City
considers special use permits for drive-thru businesses and changes
in fines and fees
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[May 17, 2013]
Tuesday evening the zoning and
safety officer for the city of Lincoln, John Lebegue, asked that the
city council approve a proposal for fast-track demolition of a house
at 908 Decatur St. Lebegue said he had gotten bids from Harold
Goodman Inc. and Jim Moody Excavating for the demolition of the
property, with Moody coming in about $2,000 cheaper than Goodman at
$5,530.
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Lebegue said the property was abandoned and deteriorated. The home
and garage on the property are filled with trash, and both have been
invaded by feral cats, skunks and other vermin. The work to be
completed will include demolition of the house, hauling of debris to
the Hopedale landfill, filling in the basement underneath the home
and removal of all concrete.
The council was advised that the new fiscal year budget includes
money for demolition projects, and this project is within that
budget.
There was little discussion concerning the matter. Mayor pro tem
Melody Anderson asked if the approval could be added to next
Monday’s consent agenda items, and the consensus was that it could.
In other business from the zoning office, Lebegue and city
administrator Sue McLaughlin spoke about creating a special use
permit for the installation of drive-thrus in area businesses.
Lebegue said that right now there are no building projects on the
horizon that would involve a drive-thru service. He said that made
now a good time to do this, as this will apply only to new projects.
The city will not go back to businesses that already have their
drive-thrus established and call for a permit.
Lebegue said there were no permits currently to address
drive-thru services, and many other towns do have such a permit. He
added that such a permit will give the city greater control over
where and how such accesses are constructed.
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During discussion Bruce Carmitchel asked what the concerns were
regarding drive-thrus. Lebegue said with this control the city could
regulate how the drive-thru was constructed. He said it would be
important to control how the drive-thru affected neighboring
businesses, and in some cases how it affected residential buildings.
He noted as an example that if a proposed plan is going to result in
headlights shining into a home in the nighttime hours, this
permitting process would give the city the opportunity to keep that
from happening.
The council was told no action was required from them on this
issue. Lebegue said the request would go to the zoning board of
appeals for their approval first.
Lebegue also asked for a new nuisance ordinance for dead trees.
He said considering the serious drought last year, he was concerned
that the city will see several dead trees in the area this year.
Right now there is no ordinance that specifically addresses the
removal of dead trees. Lebegue wants a specific ordinance so he will
be able to enforce orders to remove those trees from property.
Next on the list of changes for the zoning office was a change in
some of the fees charged for permits and bonds in the city.
Increases will be implemented for demolition permits, excavation
permits, filing fees for plats, and increases in fines for
disorderly conduct, public intoxication, and dog or cat nuisance
violations.
Increasing the fees and fines requires a change of ordinance and
must be approved by the council at next week's voting session.
[By NILA SMITH]
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