[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[0:04] Welcome, everybody, to the Metropolitan Council's only meeting this Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
[0:10] We'll call the meeting to order. Actually, do we have a quorum?
[0:13] We have a quorum.
[0:15] Number one, case two, dash 25, 8125 Jefferson Highway, a rezoned property from transition B1 to light commercial one, LC1 located on the north side of Jefferson Highway, south of Brandon Drive.
[0:28] Council District 11 Adams commission action motion to approve failed four to
[0:32] four there's been a request for a 30-day deferral we have a motion motion my
[0:38] councilwoman Adams second my councilman Hudson I'm sorry I apologize I'm moving
[0:42] ahead anybody wishing to speak on this item seeing no one go to council motion
[0:50] my councilwoman Adams second my councilman Hudson any opposed motion carries
[0:54] for 30 deferral. I have to RV to dash 25 a mansor property public drainage
[1:00] revocation a request or a vocal portion of 135 foot public drainage
[1:05] servitude located on the north side of old Perkins Road east of Pico lane
[1:09] council district nine Hudson Commission action no hearing before the planning
[1:12] Commission required for the UDC section 3.6.3 anyone here wishing to speak on
[1:18] this item?
[1:22] Mr. Brian Aguilar in favor but does not wish to speak. I'm Brian
[1:27] I was representing the applicant here as Continental Enterprises.
[1:34] We have a piece of property here that we were trying to do some work on
[1:39] and found out there is an old drainage servitude on the old portion of Ward's Creek.
[1:45] And that was realigned approximately in 2001.
[1:49] We've got some old maps from CSRS that were done way back then.
[1:53] Again, I just don't think it was ever officially removed the servitude and rededicated to where
[2:01] the channel exists at the moment.
[2:04] So that's what we're basically trying to do.
[2:06] We're trying to dissolve the servitude that is no longer, the channel is no longer there.
[2:11] The channel was realigned and we're just going to move the servitude in line with
[2:17] where the present channel is today.
[2:19] We thought it was done years ago.
[2:21] Obviously there's no record of it actually being approved and that's what we're
[2:25] asking for you today is a revocation of server 2 and a realignment of that same
[2:32] server 2 on the present channel.
[2:37] That's it. Anyone else wish to speak on this
[2:40] item?
[2:43] Seeing no one go to council. Motion by Councilman Hudson. Second by
[2:47] Councilman Hurston. He opposed. Motion carries. Thank you. Item 3 case 5-25
[2:53] 1895, 1896, 1858, 1844, Wooddale Boulevard,
[2:57] derisional property from heavy industrial M2
[2:59] to heavy commercial one, H.C.1, located on the east side.
[3:03] A Wooddale Boulevard north of Exchange Place,
[3:05] Council District 6, Dunn, Jr., commission action,
[3:08] motion to approve, carried 9-0.
[3:10] Anyone here wishing to speak on this item?
[3:15] Seeing none, we'll go to Council.
[3:17] We have a motion.
[3:18] Motion by Councilman Hertz, second by Councilwoman Adams.
[3:20] Any opposed?
[3:22] I'm sorry, by Councilman Dunn, Jr.,
[3:23] second by Councilman Adams.
[3:25] items. Any opposed? Motion carries. I'm going to take items 4 and 5 together. There's been
[3:30] a request for a 60-day deferral on these items. Item 4, PA1-2518510, Samuel's Road to Amend
[3:37] Comprehensive Land Use Plan from Agricultural Rural to Employment Center, located on the
[3:42] east side of Samuel's Road, south of Mount Pleasant, Zachary Road, Council District 1,
[3:46] and O, Commissioned Action Motion to Approve, carried 7-0. Number 5, Case 7-2518510,
[3:52] Samuel's Road to reasonable property from rural to light industrial M1 located
[3:57] on the east side of Samuel's Road south of Mount Pleasant Zachary Road.
[4:01] Council District 1-0 commission action motion to approve carry 7-0. Anyone
[4:05] here wishing to speak on items 4 and 5?
[4:09] Seeing none go to council motion to
[4:12] approve 60-day deferral second by councilwoman Adams motion by the
[4:17] Anyone opposed? Motion carries. Item 6, case 6-25 1808 Perkins Road to
[4:25] rezone property from light commercial C1 to neighborhood commercial alcoholic
[4:30] beverage restaurant NCAV located on South Side of Perkins Road east of Virgil
[4:35] Street, Council District 12, Raqqa. Motion to approve carried 6-1.
[4:44] What's that?
[4:49] Oh
[4:49] yeah. So anyone here wishing to speak on this proponent will speak first and
[4:53] and then opponents will speak after.
[4:54] Anyone wishing to speak has a proponent of item number six.
[5:05] Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
[5:08] Please state your name and address the direct.
[5:11] Gabriel McKellar, 1808 Perkins Road is my project.
[5:17] And I guess I'll just share, as I did before,
[5:20] that I'm hoping to reason from C1 to NCAB
[5:24] so that I can serve food and beverages to the neighborhood area.
[5:31] And as I stated before, so that originally a snowball stand,
[5:37] or I gutted my horse trailer on property to be a snowball stand,
[5:40] so that I could offer something on property until we were permitted occupancy,
[5:47] which we were last Thursday, thanks to hill construction, WHLC architecture.
[5:54] But all the families that are bringing a bottle of wine with their picnic or their beer with their crawfish, I would love to be able to serve those items.
[6:05] And that way it adds to the fact that it's for the family. The adults can have their beverage as well as the kids can have their snowballs.
[6:13] And it's been really, really neat to be a part of this unbelievable community.
[6:18] one-of-a-kind for sure as well as the property has been and very, very educational.
[6:24] Last opened in 1967 and learning how to achieve power and water, things like that was really incredible.
[6:36] So that is my goal to bring a family-oriented space or bring it back to life there at 1808 Perkins Road
[6:44] And I really, I mean, the key is for the neighborhood to be a part of it.
[6:50] Otherwise, it's already a failure.
[6:55] So I like my yellow picnic tables and the old gas station,
[6:57] and I want to be like the other cities that are bringing old buildings back to life.
[7:02] That is my goal, and I thank you all for that.
[7:10] Any other proponents?
[7:12] And I'm Rex Cabanus, 1213 Stuart Avenue.
[7:16] We're the architects on the project, and I'm here just to support, but mostly answer
[7:20] any questions you may have this evening.
[7:22] Thank you.
[7:27] Any other opponents?
[7:32] Any opponents?
[7:33] We shouldn't speak.
[7:36] Oh, we have a list here.
[7:38] Kevin Bonjorni?
[7:40] That's me.
[7:40] I stepped up first.
[7:42] Yes, my name's Kevin Bonjorni.
[7:44] I live on 1631 Blu and Avenue.
[7:47] My property is right across the street of this stand.
[7:54] I wasn't going to speak today after the way I felt that the public was treated at the last meeting, the planning and zoning meeting.
[8:04] Ten people spoke.
[8:06] There were five other people who did not speak, and then they said that they had received a number of other comments from people in the community,
[8:14] community. And they were completely dismissed. And it was very clear that what people had
[8:22] to say was not of importance. And so I thought it was not going to speak. But then today
[8:26] I drove by the 1808 stand. And there was a car parked illegally at a stop sign. And
[8:36] it was impeding the traffic right there at the sign. And it was there for, I don't
[8:44] at least 15 minutes. And it brought to my attention just how important to understand
[8:51] that this is a blind and dangerous intersection. Virgil Street on the Perkins is very blind and
[8:59] dangerous. And to have cars parked, whether legally or illegally, like this car today,
[9:06] that will impede traffic and prohibit egress and ingress into the neighborhood,
[9:11] will increase the danger to that and chance of accident in that neighborhood.
[9:20] And I just want to have you understand and acknowledge and have it on the record
[9:28] and noted that by increasing and putting parking in this neighborhood,
[9:34] the way it is is going to cause more accidents
[9:37] and that you acknowledge that and understand that that's what's going to happen.
[9:42] I don't know how liability works, but I just wanted to be acknowledged and recognized that this increases the danger in the area.
[9:52] I know that the architect the other day brought to our attention as well that a member of the council is assisting them in this.
[10:01] And so I don't harbor any illusion that this won't be passed, but I just wanted to bring this to your attention.
[10:09] Thank you.
[10:11] David Bickmeyer.
[10:24] I'm David Bickmeyer.
[10:25] I live right across this Perkins Road from the establishment of 1808.
[10:32] When I first heard about this, the sandwich shop and the snow cones, I wished them well.
[10:37] It sounded like a nice little neighborhood piece.
[10:40] two days before the meeting last week I heard about the alcohol first time. It's an invitation
[10:48] for disaster. The safeties that I've already been mentioned. I live right across the street.
[10:52] Our house right now cannot be darkened because all the lights coming off that site. I don't
[11:01] know what it's going to be like with alcohol. There is no parking. Perkins Road goes from
[11:06] four lanes, the two lanes and right by our house and the traffic is heavy, it moves fast.
[11:12] As the previous gentleman mentioned, it's safety hazard.
[11:16] You cannot get in and out through those intersections, the blind intersection on Virgil in particular.
[11:24] One of the things that bothers me is the person trying to get this zoning is not
[11:31] the owner of the property, it's a tenant.
[11:34] The owner of the property is Jim Lackett, he is notorious for the lack of maintenance
[11:40] on his property and the entire block is blighted from his, I think, seven or eight or nine properties
[11:46] that have no maintenance at all, the station being one of them.
[11:51] Once this tenant is gone, Jim Lackett has full potential to do anything alcoholic with
[11:57] that he wants.
[11:58] And we're in the edge of a historical district, the city park is a block away, and I think
[12:03] this is just an invitation for disaster.
[12:06] I don't think a lot of things have been thought through.
[12:08] I don't know why it's being rushed the way it is, and I would like to see this postponed
[12:12] until some decent studies and some considerations of all the issues involved are highlighted
[12:19] and dealt with.
[12:21] Thank you.
[12:26] Sarah Bonjoni.
[12:32] Hi.
[12:33] I'm Sarah Bonjoni.
[12:33] I live on Bluen Avenue which are the rear of our property opens on to Virgil
[12:39] directly across from the site. I want to say first that I admire Gabrielle's
[12:45] determination and creativity but this is not the right place to put this
[12:48] business and it does create traffic hazards on a neighborhood that's very
[12:53] quiet but has extremely narrow maybe 14 or 15 foot wide streets as it is.
[12:58] There's no shoulder, there's poor visibility, there's a real traffic
[13:02] I can't stress to you enough how blind the intersection is at Virgil and Perkins.
[13:08] We were – so I do oppose this for that reason.
[13:13] I think the idea of serving alcohol so close to Perkins Road and then deliberately wanting
[13:20] families to come there and, you know, for the children to play and everything is just
[13:23] such a bad combination because there is no room for error there.
[13:27] I remember years ago because I've lived in for 20 years and then before that five years
[13:33] on Ovid and Virgil.
[13:35] We would walk with our kids there.
[13:37] It's so narrow there that you have to completely step out of the street if one car goes by.
[13:42] It's that close to you.
[13:43] It's almost like they brush you physically almost if it's that close.
[13:46] And I remember fussing at my husband who spoke just a couple of minutes ago when
[13:50] he was standing near the edge of the street talking with a neighbor and one of our
[13:54] daughters who was three at the time.
[13:56] And he's just talking away and I busted him afterwards and said, what are you doing?
[14:00] You cannot have a conversation with another adult when you are standing that close to
[14:04] those trapping.
[14:04] I don't care how quiet it is because there's no room for error there.
[14:08] And now you'd be on a have additional congestion, worsened visibility and so forth,
[14:14] as well as that fast traffic on traffic, excuse me, on Perkins.
[14:19] I also want to note that there were about 10 speakers in opposition at the commission.
[14:23] And then when I looked at the agenda today, it just said 6-1 as in approving it, but that is not the full story.
[14:29] I used to be the secretary on the board of the National Charity League here at the River Road chapter, and I had no experience serving on a board.
[14:40] So I would type up everything. I was like, oh my God, like he's looking left now. I was typing a novel every time.
[14:45] But let me tell you, people knew exactly what happened. It was highly entertaining to my coach board members, but I knew exactly what happened.
[14:53] and there was no way you couldn't know what happened.
[14:55] All that was on the background was a 6-1 vote,
[14:58] and that does not tell the story.
[14:59] So I'm...
[15:00] I wanted to point that out. I also wanted to ask you to delay this. It feels like it's
[15:04] being rushed through, and this is a good idea. I spoke to Gabrielle the other day, and like
[15:10] I said, I admire her energy and her determination and creativity. Those are good things, but
[15:15] this is being pushed through too quickly. And, you know, suspicion and distrust arise
[15:20] when you don't communicate clearly with people and people don't know what's going
[15:24] on. So talk to people, let people know what's going on. I was a big admirer, and I'm
[15:29] glad to be here tonight because I really looked up to the way that you all had
[15:33] the library the issue and you came to a compromise and I felt like you
[15:39] listened. I did not feel like the zoning commission listened. Okay, thank you.
[15:43] Thank you. Deborah Rowe.
[15:52] Good afternoon, y'all. I'm happy to be here to speak on
[15:58] behalf of the neighborhood. I live at 1755 Perkins Road. I have lived there
[16:04] for many years. I probably need to back up. I have a loud voice. Anyway, I live in a home
[16:12] that has been mortgage-free for years, and I want to say that many of the homes in our
[16:20] neighborhood close to this location are long-term residents who are living in their homes now
[16:28] mortgage-free. I lived there for a long time because I worked at the Catholic
[16:33] Life Center. I was the director of Catholic Charities and I could walk to
[16:38] work and come back. My home has paid off and I'm intending to spend my
[16:42] retirement years there. Likewise are many other people in the area. With this
[16:50] project we were very happy to have the cute novel stand and Gabriella in
[16:58] in the neighborhood, very sweet people, but then all of a sudden it's turning into a business,
[17:04] it's turning into a restaurant. Gabriella has told, I'm sure all of you and all of us
[17:12] about her passion for young people, and that's the group that she wants in her location,
[17:20] but it just hit me yesterday, okay, so we want to gather young people, but we also
[17:26] want a liquor license and I'm just somehow that just a seeming contradictory to me. I'm
[17:33] sorry honey. The other thing I wanted to talk about was that corner again I think it's been
[17:42] well described. The corner of Lydia and Perkins has a curve when you first turning onto it
[17:51] But it's a slight curve and even with nobody else on it, you can't see further than a block.
[17:59] Now that area behind the property has been laid with gravel, as if it's going to be
[18:05] a parking area, we don't know because there has been zero communication with the neighborhood
[18:15] except for in the form of personal conversations some of us have had.
[18:21] There's been no information shared with the neighborhood.
[18:25] There's been no opportunity to have a public hearing.
[18:29] So we don't really know what's going on.
[18:31] We've gone from serving children to wanting to serve liquor
[18:35] and now we have to have a restaurant in order to serve the liquor
[18:39] and there's no parking anywhere around.
[18:43] So, I just wanted to say that in that particular location, we've talked about the speed on
[18:51] Perkins Road, and during rush hour it can be very fast.
[18:56] That particular location of that, quote, old gas station for years was where the
[19:04] police parked.
[19:06] They hid at the side of the building to give speeding tickets to people coming down Perkins.
[19:14] So having a family facility, a snowball stand was fine, but liquor is not.
[19:22] So thank you very much. Appreciate your time.
[19:24] Thank you.
[19:25] Robert Reed.
[19:31] Metro Council.
[19:32] Robert Reed, 1832 Perkins Road.
[19:35] Our families live two doors down from the old gas station for 29 years.
[19:40] Hopefully you received my e-mail this morning.
[19:43] We are opposed to the rezoning of NC with alcoholic beverage.
[19:47] I'm a professional civil engineer.
[19:49] I've taught traffic safety merit badge to the Boy Scouts numerous times.
[19:55] I want it on public record.
[19:57] This property has significant public safety issues.
[20:02] It is one thing to have safety issues within a residential neighborhood that everyone is
[20:07] aware of and can mitigate.
[20:09] It is another to have a commercial space that you invite the general public into and it's
[20:15] quite another thing to then serve alcohol in that space.
[20:19] Virgil Street is narrow in a bad condition and that intersection is dangerous.
[20:24] The curve in Perkins Road and the wooden fence there have greatly reduced the site
[20:28] distance for people turning in or pulling out.
[20:31] but the neighborhood is aware so they use other connecting streets.
[20:35] The parking at 1808 should be the gravel parking in the back of the property,
[20:40] but patrons of the Snowball stand also recognize the danger of this intersection.
[20:45] So they park in front on parkings.
[20:47] The building is on the property line.
[20:49] The only parking is on the sidewalk.
[20:52] My sight distance backing out of my driveway was not great when 1808 was vacant,
[20:58] But I learned to be cautious living there for 29 years now with cars parked on the sidewalk
[21:03] I cannot see oncoming traffic until the back end of my car is in the road and
[21:09] Traffic on Perkins does not have enough time to see me
[21:12] One of my family members or myself are going to get hit
[21:17] And this is with a snowball stand run out of a tiny horse trailer
[21:21] Just imagine what it will be with a restaurant serving alcohol and the patrons will have to back out also
[21:28] and then the danger to the traveling public on Perkins.
[21:32] Also, when they park on the sidewalk, it blocks pedestrian traffic.
[21:36] Just last week, preparing for the parade, I saw a mom pushing a baby stroller.
[21:42] I saw a couple walking back from Perks Coffee and a girl walking her dog.
[21:47] I'll have to move out into Perkins Road with a limited sight distance in order to walk around the parked cars.
[21:53] I've had to do this numerous times walking my own dog.
[21:56] Again, this is with a small snowball stand.
[21:59] What will it be like with a restaurant serving alcohol for eternity?
[22:04] Some sort of guardrail or bollards need to be placed to block patrons from parking on
[22:10] the sidewalk.
[22:11] All parking should be in the back of the property on Virgil.
[22:15] You should deny the with alcohol beverage and deny any permit for occupancy until
[22:20] this is corrected.
[22:21] This is all on you.
[22:23] This is a public safety issue.
[22:25] Also, we have Country Corner a block away with grape-fried chicken, crawfish, crabs, beer, wine.
[22:33] There's no demand for this.
[22:37] Amy DeWitt.
[22:46] Hi, my name is Amy DeWitt.
[22:47] I live at 2430 Kato Street in Poets Corner.
[22:51] I was looking over what the Office of the Planning Commission had on their site.
[22:57] And I see that this lot did not meet conformity there.
[23:06] However, changing zoning, I realize, does not increase or decrease whether it conforms.
[23:15] That said, when you add alcohol there, that is going to make it more of an attractive nuisance.
[23:25] It's going to draw more people there.
[23:29] And because it is non-conforming, there is no parking, there's no room for this.
[23:36] Like all the other people have said, I've lived in that neighborhood for 20 years.
[23:41] All of Jim Lackett's property is in a gross state of disrepair.
[23:46] And certainly the gas station was a prime example.
[23:50] And the fact that it isn't now service is great, but do we really need alcohol there?
[24:00] Also, I noticed that they said public, this is back the planning and zoning, said that
[24:06] they had notified all the property owners within 300 feet and Poets Corner Neighborhood Association.
[24:14] I have been the Vice President, the President, and for 20 years, the de facto coordinator
[24:20] of our Neighborhood Association.
[24:23] Everybody in our neighborhood knows that.
[24:26] And nobody contacted our Neighborhood Association.
[24:29] We got zero information.
[24:32] That's not right.
[24:33] We need to know what's going on.
[24:37] Then the other item is this that was printed from planning and zoning.
[24:42] All that yellow shading, that is all residential and beyond that.
[24:48] The red in the center is going to be a restaurant slash bar slash snowball stand slash hair
[24:58] cutting place.
[24:59] We don't know that.
[25:01] Why?
[25:02] Why when on the other side of Perkins, we can go and go to restaurants and go to bars
[25:08] and party, and you know when you're on that side, that's what you're there to do.
[25:13] When you're back on our side, the overpass, residential, why put something that serves
[25:19] alcohol right in the middle of it in a family, family restaurant?
[25:27] I oppose.
[25:28] I ask y'all to reconsider this very strongly.
[25:30] Thank you.
[25:34] John Wurt.
[25:38] Thanks for the opportunity to speak.
[25:40] I want to remind the council about the 10 years of conflict between homeowners and the open-air restaurant Boyle & Rue.
[25:49] On Cursey Boulevard, Boyle & Rue prompted repeated noise complaints, permitting issues, and problems with its liquor license.
[25:59] In addition to those problems, patrons of Boyle & Rue were disrespectful of neighbors, even at times threatening neighbors.
[26:06] And also Boyle & Rue was an outdoor facility.
[26:09] This proposed site is an outdoor patio, restaurant, tables and chairs outside, picnic tables outside.
[26:18] The developer of this project at 1808 Perkins Road has not contacted the neighbors to discuss noise, parking, congestion, light pollution or other matters.
[26:30] Because she has the approval process, she has rushed this approval process.
[26:38] So I asked you guys to delay a vote on this issue.
[26:42] And I'd like to mention that Section 74 of the United Development Code says, non-conforming
[26:49] uses involving the sale of alcohol shall not be re-established if the sale of alcohol
[26:54] at the business is discontinued for six months or more.
[26:57] The Planning Commission's report for this project also says the project does not meet minimum square footage requirements.
[27:06] This is called spot zoning.
[27:09] And spot zoning by definition is the process of singling out a small parcel of land for use classification totally different from that of the surrounding area.
[27:21] For the benefit of the owner of the property or the developer in this case.
[27:25] So to the detriment of the homeowners nearby in this case.
[27:33] So the request is not compatible with surrounding uses, which is single family homes.
[27:39] This project does not conform to the unified development code requirements.
[27:44] So I ask you to defer a vote at least.
[27:47] Thank you.
[27:52] We also have Mitch Evans showing as opposed but does not wish to speak.
[27:55] Anyone else here wishing to speak on this item?
[27:57] Good
[28:07] afternoon. Thank you. My name is Kimberly Karmish, live at 1825 Perkins Road.
[28:13] I want to start by saying that I support local businesses, not an attack on a local business.
[28:18] My friends and family and loved ones are small business owners and know the hardships
[28:21] and hard work that it takes to make it.
[28:24] What I've learned from small business owners in my life is the correct way to treat people
[28:28] in a community you're serving. I've not seen this done by the business developer.
[28:31] On the contrary, I've seen the community not be spoken to and yet post being made on social
[28:39] media that we're all supposed to be following the social media page in order to get updates
[28:43] about what's going on in our community.
[28:45] Things were posted and we were not able to see them.
[28:49] They were not posted in plain sight.
[28:51] The facts are this, the snowball stand that has been there has been tolerated
[28:55] up until this point, but it's not without its problems.
[28:59] Adding alcohol to the mix of this will only make the issues that we're already experiencing worse.
[29:04] We do not have the infrastructure on this side of Perkins to grow and develop a restaurant or bar.
[29:09] The remarks made by Gabriella at the last meeting about her plans to develop the whole area down the line are highly concerning as well.
[29:18] This is a residential area with growing families and small roads.
[29:21] We do not want this to happen.
[29:22] We cannot readily accommodate the rezoning.
[29:25] We are against the rezoning wholeheartedly and are asking at the very least for a postponement
[29:30] to see if she is even capable of making the necessary and appropriate changes needed with
[29:35] a snowball stand alone.
[29:36] This rezoning is put through against the will of the people of this community.
[29:40] We'll have no other choice but to come to the conclusion that our votes need to change
[29:44] come time for reelection.
[29:45] I'll not stop speaking vocally and consistently regardless of this goes through or not.
[29:51] But please hear your constituents and know that whether this goes through,
[29:54] this will start the construction of a precious community.
[29:57] We have been here longer and we will still be here at this community.
[30:00] The community does not want this, and we are pleased asking you to stop.
[30:07] Anyone else wish to speak on this side? Please.
[30:16] Good evening. Thank you all for hearing us. My name is Joe Keegan. I also live in Poets Corner.
[30:21] I don't want to add to your burden of listening to repeat, so let me just tell you two solid points.
[30:25] We had the meeting on Monday where the developer was addressed the issue of our concerns about parking,
[30:32] and I came home from work yesterday evening with a blue car parked in the sidewalk
[30:35] as I drove by coming home from work around 4.30.
[30:38] We need somebody who, we do not need somebody
[30:41] who is going to treat our community that way.
[30:43] The second piece I have is we have consistently
[30:46] as a neighborhood said please do not develop this area.
[30:50] We are a whole neighborhood that are telling the council
[30:52] with a single voice what we as a community want.
[30:55] This developer neither lives in nor is part
[30:58] of the poet's corner and yet plans to do things
[31:00] that make our subdivision or whatever we call
[31:02] that little cohort of ours, much worse and much less safe.
[31:06] I urge you to please emphatically vote no.
[31:09] We do not need this, nor do we want this, and we are the vast majority of our neighborhood.
[31:13] We are not the single developer.
[31:15] Thank you so much for listening to us.
[31:19] Anyone else wish to speak on this side?
[31:21] Go on up.
[31:27] Hello.
[31:27] My name is Judith Nash.
[31:29] I also live in Poets Corner at 2135 Pericles Street, and I just want to add that already,
[31:37] When there's any kind of events on the interstate, Perkins Road traffic increases significantly.
[31:44] With the upcoming construction they're planning on the interstate, that's going to seriously
[31:49] affect the cars and the traffic on Perkins Road to begin with, making it even that much
[31:54] more difficult to get in and out of our neighborhood.
[31:58] So I suggest you vote no on this.
[32:01] Thank you.
[32:13] Hi, I'm Nancy Keegan.
[32:14] I live at 2229 Ovid Street, and I just want to reiterate one of the things that's been said,
[32:23] which is that that little corner there on Virgil, I've already nearly had accidents
[32:30] over there. There's potholes in the road. It's in very poor shape. It is not in any way,
[32:36] shape, or form up to what this developer wants to do with it. So I very strongly urge you
[32:44] to vote no on this proposition. It adds nothing to our neighborhood, but it definitely does
[32:49] take away from our neighborhood. Thank you.
[32:56] Anyone else wish to speak on the side?
[33:04] You're welcome to a rebuttal to anything. That was
[33:08] stated.
[33:13] I guess,
[33:17] so going backwards a little bit further. Fifteen months ago I was granted
[33:25] the lease for 1808 Perkins Road. Mr. Jim Lackett has stated that I was 132nd proposed lease
[33:35] for this property. It was exciting. I observed that there are seven other properties owned
[33:46] by him that could use some help, some love and attention and care. I further would
[33:52] would like to put together a group that potentially purchases and or to renew those homes as homes.
[34:00] This is a seeing that there was a commercial property in the corner as a real estate agent.
[34:06] I was very excited about the opportunity to both learn and elevate a neighborhood.
[34:13] I had no idea what I had in store as far as sawing down the trees, cutting out the
[34:21] inside he obtained the lease as long as I did every single improvement and I was
[34:30] trying to do them myself so again 12 months later for about 15 months in so
[34:35] 13 months later I had two amazing God sent companies come in hill
[34:40] construction WHLC architecture saying hey you look like you need some help you
[34:45] know and neighbors would I was you wouldn't have shoveled in the limestone
[34:48] or when I'm repairing the roof board for board because I want to make sure it
[34:52] kept this historic self like the six-cent cook machine inside. There's not a
[34:56] place in Baton Rouge where you can take your your grandchild and say oh this
[35:00] where how I used to get Coca-Cola. I am it's as far as learning about blights
[35:06] that was very educational. I like court and whatnot on a building that isn't
[35:11] mine. However I did not do all of this and put my other entities money
[35:16] savings cryptocurrency retirement into a building I don't own to not own it one day, and that
[35:23] is my end goal. I'm homeschooled oldest of nine, Mississippi, and was raised with obviously
[35:30] just extreme core Christian family values. I am here to improve something not to take
[35:38] away, and there hasn't been much information about what I'm going to do because the last
[35:44] 15 months every month I couldn't imagine being able to sustain the efforts because it's just so much more would appear so I
[35:54] However, we're here and I want to I want to hear I want to hear even more from the community
[36:01] There isn't a definite plan because I don't have definite capital and when it is it'll be sandwiches and
[36:09] Little bites, maybe little pizzas kids can make themselves. It will be family-oriented and um, I
[36:17] Really appreciate you guys to consider that. Thank you
[36:23] Council members. You should have received six email comments one in support five in opposition
[36:32] Now we're going to go to council
[36:36] Councilor Morocco,
[36:39] sorry, Mr. Rex. I don't have any questions for you yet. Okay
[36:44] So I've received several emails as well, text messages, telephone calls.
[36:48] Thank you everyone who took the time to send me the emails.
[36:51] They did not go unread.
[36:53] In fact, as you came up here, I was matching your commentary and your photographs that you shared with us.
[36:59] We've put a lot of hours in trying to figure out exactly what this property looks like,
[37:05] how it has looked in the past and what it looks like moving forward.
[37:09] I'm going to ask Mr. Ryan Holcomb to come forward if he can, because I think he needs to clear up some questions.
[37:18] One of my main things that I like to always talk about on Wednesday nights, and I think some of my council members are going to roll their eyes real big and hard is misinformation.
[37:29] I think we have to stick to the facts and stick to the law.
[37:32] If we stick to those things, then we'll always be moving in the right direction.
[37:35] and I have to even say I got text messages from a fellow council member that said that this was going to be a bar.
[37:42] And I took a big offense to that in the emails and the comments and the text messages
[37:49] because one thing that I have stood firm on the entire time that I've been on this council,
[37:55] and we can get the South Down Civic Association to come into this chamber and say it is no new CAB2.
[38:02] And for what those of you out there that don't know what CAB2 is, is that is a bar.
[38:09] And that has been our policy all up and down Perkins Road.
[38:12] And I think Mr. Holcomb can attest to that.
[38:15] We had Ruzin that came in that desperately wants a wine bar, desperately wants to put
[38:22] it right there next to Sprouts.
[38:24] And our position has been no new CAB2.
[38:28] So, I need everyone to understand today, 1808 is not a new CAB2, it is not a new bar.
[38:37] Correct?
[38:38] That's correct, Councilwoman.
[38:39] And can you clear up for everyone what neighborhood commercial AB is, please?
[38:46] NCAB is neighborhood commercial with on-premise alcohol, sales and consumption.
[38:52] It's our most restrictive small neighborhood scale restaurant with alcohol
[38:58] Okay, and in the area in Perkins Road corridor area
[39:02] And I understand we have I bars and all those places that have been there for decades
[39:06] But let's let's look at we talked about non conforming somebody brought that up. I think that's very important. Can you tell me?
[39:15] they said the
[39:16] and nobody brought up Zealand Street.
[39:19] Can you tell me what Zealand Street is currently zoned as?
[39:22] Zealand Street is zoned CAB1 and the parking lot
[39:27] is zoned like commercial.
[39:29] OK, so tell me what CAB1 is.
[39:32] CAB1 is a larger scale zoning category similar to this.
[39:37] So larger than this.
[39:38] A larger footprint with no square footage requirement
[39:41] or restriction tied to it.
[39:43] So they can serve alcohol.
[39:44] That's correct.
[39:45] They have to operate as a restaurant, but they can serve and consume alcohol on the premises.
[39:50] And so also for public consumption, currently, as this is zoned, and like I said, I was doing
[39:56] my homework, and thank you for your help as well, and help from the parish attorney's
[40:01] office.
[40:02] Currently, if we get rid of 1808, she says, I'm not doing this anymore, I'm sorry,
[40:07] y'all, because we put this lady through the ringer for sure with getting permits
[40:12] and sending her to different places.
[40:15] There could be a liquor store there, correct?
[40:17] That's correct.
[40:18] There could be a vape shop there, correct?
[40:20] That's correct.
[40:21] There could be a tattoo parlor there, correct?
[40:23] That's correct.
[40:24] There could be apartments there, correct?
[40:25] That's correct.
[40:26] There could be a fraternity or sorority house there,
[40:29] correct?
[40:30] That's correct.
[40:30] And you and I had that issue on Highland Road
[40:32] when we had an off-campus fraternity move
[40:34] into a place right off Highland, correct?
[40:37] Yes, we did.
[40:38] So I just want to make sure all my council members,
[40:40] fellow council people understand what this currently is zoned at, and could we do anything
[40:46] to stop any of those other folks from coming in if they decided to move, because she's
[40:52] not the owner.
[40:52] There's a man that apparently leases this property and doesn't maintain his other properties
[40:58] well based upon the commentary that I'm hearing in some of my personal observations, so
[41:04] there's nothing we could do to stop any of those other folks from coming in because
[41:07] it's currently zoned properly in that way, right?
[41:09] That's correct. It's been zoned like commercial C1 for decades.
[41:13] Okay. And look, I didn't think this came off and I'm going to need my time.
[41:18] And if anybody wants to donate some, we have some issues that I'd love to vet out for everybody in this room.
[41:22] There were some concerns in an email about the environmental safety and the gas tanks.
[41:30] I think you did some research on that. Can you share that with everyone, please?
[41:33] Yeah, I shared that with the Planning Commission on Monday, but there are four underground storage tanks.
[41:40] This property used to operate as a gas station as late as in the 1970s.
[41:49] LDQ has gone out to the property and done several investigations.
[41:53] Bottom line is those tanks are capped.
[41:56] They have been drained and or filled with water and sand per the fire marshal in 1979.
[42:03] and they've been capped with concrete so they're inaccessible.
[42:07] LDQ has gone out there, investigated multiple times.
[42:10] They have no active violations and no additional concerns from their office.
[42:16] There is no requirement that they be removed, and we checked in with them on Monday.
[42:20] Thank you for that information.
[42:21] Okay, and the other concern which I too believe it's very concerning,
[42:25] and I do believe that there should be more respect shown to the neighbors in the area
[42:29] with regard to parking and illegal parking and stop signs and obstruction of view there.
[42:34] Can you tell me, typically in some of the other cases that we've had in the past, parking
[42:39] doesn't come until later, but can you tell me what parking looks like on this small piece
[42:43] of property?
[42:44] Because I've been out there, I've driven by it multiple times, I've pulled down
[42:48] Virgil and I drive a big SUV that carries a lot of groceries and children.
[42:53] So I understand how hard it is to get right back on parking.
[42:56] And so tell me, how is that resolved or can we resolve it?
[43:01] Tell me what that looks like, please.
[43:02] Certainly.
[43:03] Parking is a challenge.
[43:04] This site is certainly a constrained site.
[43:06] I'll be the first to admit that the architect here
[43:09] may be able to shed some more light on their plans
[43:11] regarding parking.
[43:13] But basically parking is looked at at the permitting,
[43:15] and I can see permit level.
[43:18] There is a section in the existing parking ordinance
[43:21] in the Unified Development Code, Chapter 17,
[43:24] section 17.2.2 that states older buildings prior to 1996 can get a credit for parking
[43:32] spots for the last permitted use. So what the building official is going to have to do
[43:38] if this parking is applied for is research and find the last legally permitted use and apply
[43:45] that parking standard for credits that could help close the gap.
[43:51] All right.
[43:56] Another concern in emails was that the owner of the property did not bring the
[44:02] request to make the change to this new zoning. So can you explain to us whether or not that's
[44:11] a valid concern or issue or hurdle that we face here today? So the owner is not required to be
[44:17] here, but the owner is required to sign off on the application that's submitted to our office.
[44:22] And we do have an application that was signed by the property owner.
[44:27] Thank you.
[44:30] Can you tell me a little bit about the contact with the HOA?
[44:35] So the contact with the HOA that's referenced on our staff report is a supplemental notice in addition to the legal requirement of every property owner within 300 feet.
[44:47] There is a vicinity map that should be attached to the document you'll have access to on the agenda center.
[44:54] The yellow areas show the notification for the surrounding property owners within 300 feet.
[45:00] And we do what we can to contact the neighborhood representative on record. What we do is we have
[45:06] a staff member that goes to the secretary of state in the point of contact that's tied
[45:11] to the secretary of state contact for that HOA or civic association. We send an additional
[45:16] notification to them. I can tell you that it appears our staff had done that. But it's
[45:22] not a legal requirement for that part. It's just supplemental above and beyond the
[45:26] legal.
[45:26] Okay.
[45:28] A very dear friend of mine's parents live in the area and she was extremely concerned
[45:32] about if she was supportive of the business but she was very concerned about if Gabrielle
[45:39] picks up and leaves, 1808 leaves, and someone else comes in with NCAV.
[45:46] Can you tell me what they're allowed to do as opposed to we've covered what they can
[45:51] currently do with the tattoo parlors and vape shops and et cetera?
[45:54] But can you tell me with the NCAB, what would somebody be able to comment and do in that area with the new zoning?
[46:02] So NCAB is more restrictive than the current C1 zoning, except in one regard.
[46:09] You do get that additional use of on-premise sale and alcohol consumption as long as you're operating primarily as a restaurant.
[46:15] and that's 51% of your sales. Documented sales has to be food or other than alcoholic beverages.
[46:25] Other uses that are allowed in NCAB or educational institution, a government facility, a park, philanthropic organization, a religious institution,
[46:36] a bank, a medical office, or small clinic, a professional office, an art gallery, art
[46:45] studio,
[46:48] daycare, child or adult, health club is allowed in both.
[46:53] Councilwoman, that's your time?
[46:55] That's primarily it.
[46:55] Y'all can close it up.
[46:57] So would it be fair to say that this is a lesser included?
[47:00] Is this a lesser, a down zoning, in a sense?
[47:04] It is except for the one additional use that there are many other uses that are taken off
[47:10] the table with this.
[47:11] And that would be the alcohol use.
[47:13] But if we were looking at caveats, she could operate currently as she stands and she could
[47:19] request special permits for alcohol anytime she wanted to serve alcohol, correct?
[47:23] There's a certain number of times a year through the ABC office.
[47:26] But she could request that, correct?
[47:28] That's correct.
[47:28] Councilman Hurth.
[47:31] Thank you so much, Councilman.
[47:36] I don't think I have any other questions.
[47:38] Thank you so much, Mr. Holcomb.
[47:41] I guess I could ask Ms. Gabrielle a couple of questions if you don't mind coming forward.
[47:48] Yes, ma'am.
[47:49] Can you speak to some of the parking issues and some of the things that you attempt
[47:52] to resolve with having cars?
[47:54] Because look, if this moves forward and my office gets those calls, my response
[48:00] is going to be much like it is anywhere in my district.
[48:02] call the police, put it in 311 and we're not going to put up with it. It's not
[48:07] going to happen. Well, I'll call the chief myself and have you reported until
[48:12] you're not there anymore. I understand. It's a problem and I don't want to be
[48:16] disrupted and I don't want these people to be disrupted. So do you have some
[48:20] things in place to make sure that the parking and the folks that are at your
[48:24] facility are abiding by the law? Yes ma'am. I've made a call to the
[48:29] permanent office as far as, am I allowed, I would like some formal no parking signs
[48:33] that you see that the city clearly makes as far as per our front bar area that's
[48:38] what covers up the pre-existing like where they would put gas in the car so I
[48:43] covered them up because it's a trip hazard but that's where I would like to
[48:46] put no parking three of them you know so to make it clear there's no parking
[48:49] on this sidewalk and I am guilty of that myself and so that is that's in
[48:54] and over and done with and if anybody is parking there and decides to
[48:58] stay there for more than two seconds they will be towed. The parking will be
[49:03] one more thing real quick so I because we run we're running out of time yes we've
[49:07] moved kind of slow and I'm sorry to interrupt you but the other issue is
[49:10] light pollution and noise pollution this is a neighborhood area you've
[49:15] recognized that in the conversations that I've had with you but loud noise
[49:19] and light pollution in people's homes if you can do anything to mitigate that
[49:23] that's not going to be allowed either we have noise ordinances in this
[49:26] city and in my district if it's if you're going to be bothering folks and I
[49:32] don't know how my colleagues are going to vote I have no idea but if this moves
[49:35] forward that's going to be another thing where we're sending officers out and
[49:39] shut your business down. They've maintained a quiet area a comfortable
[49:44] area there are people that are raising families there and people that
[49:48] have long past raising their families there so there would need to be a
[49:52] commitment from you that you're going to you're going to be a good
[49:55] I am going to be a good neighbor and I will have a group coming out this week
[50:00] electricians as far as to put dimmers on those lights that are outside the
[50:03] building. Definitely while my employees are there I want it to be lit front and
[50:07] back but I don't will the latest would ever be up and would be nine I would
[50:12] like to be close by eight and I was respect by times of young and old
[50:18] and I'm excited to get it right for this neighborhood.
[50:23] Thank you.
[50:30] Anyone else wishing to speak on this item?
[50:35] Do we have a motion?
[50:37] Do we have a motion by Councilwoman Rocca?
[50:40] Second by Councilman Moak.
[50:41] Any opposed?
[50:43] Motion carries.
[50:46] Councilwoman Amorosa.