Scott City finds zoning answer

The Scott City government may have found a solution to its zoning mess, but public input is required before it can be enacted.

The city council met Tuesday to discuss the issue with the city's Planning and Zoning Commission and reached a consensus on a possible fix. Both parties agreed that the best solution will be to zone the areas to conform to their current use, be it residential, industrial, commercial or mobile homes.

A zoning problem in the area of the city just east of Interstate 55 and south of Main Street was brought to the council's attention in December, when local developer Richard Brawley approached the council with plans he had for several lots he had purchased about a year and a half ago. Brawley's discussion with the city council brought to light the fact that the entire area is zoned for "light industrial," but over the years lax attention to ordinances have allowed construction of all sorts.

With the area zoned as light industrial, a developer could not legally put in residential structures.

Mayor Tim Porch said finding the solution turned out to be easier than he first thought. In the meeting the council and commission color-coded a map of the area according to its current uses and found that most structures in the same category are clustered in the same areas, Porch said. However, some will require the issuance of special-use permits, he said.

"Discussing it made it sound horrendous," Porch said. "But it's really not much different than what we have in other areas of town."

Planning and Zoning Commission chair Carolyn Pendergrass said the zoning will still be a bit unconventional, but that the consensus plan will likely work.

'It's a good plan'

However, Pendergrass points out that input from property owners in the area is an important part of the process.

"We feel they'll be very happy with the way it's been settled," Pendergrass said. "For the most part it's a good plan."

At least one of the property owners will have a lot to say to the city council about the plan. Brawley wants the council to relax its regulations on mobile homes so that he can bring in homes that aren't allowed under current city ordinance. Brawley owns four mobile homes in the area that are several decades old and wants to replace them with newer trailers.

"I'm not proud of what I have down there right now," Brawley said. "They've got to go."

Brawley says he wants to clean up the area by bringing in nicer mobile homes he can rent in the $350 to $400 per month range. In order for his plan to be economically feasible, Brawley said, he needs to bring in trailers more than 10 years old, but current city ordinances do not allow such trailers to be brought into the city.

Brawley has a reputation known to city leaders as a property owner who improves properties he purchases and provides affordable low-income housing that isn't an eyesore.

So far the council hasn't been receptive to relaxing the 10-year rule, but armed with photos of properties he's improved and trailers in bad condition that fit the 10-year rule, Brawley hopes to convince them otherwise.

"Don't punish me for what the other guy might do," Brawley said. He plans to appear at the next city council meeting, to be held Tuesday night.

Council members opposed to Brawley's plan have expressed concern that relaxing the rules might create future problems with other developers. But Brawley points out that "I was once the guy that came after, and look what I did."

Ward 2 Councilman John Crail has been Brawley's only vocal supporter on the council. Crail supports relaxing the 10-year rule as an exception for Brawley but not relaxing the rule permanently.

"His rental property is better than any of the other rental property in this community," Crail said.

Porch said other mobile home owners who rent out their property have told him they have no problem with the 10-year rule, but the decision is not his to make. The council must vote on the issue, and Porch said right now there probably isn't enough support for Brawley's proposal.

The first public hearing to discuss zoning in the light industrial zone is scheduled for 7 p.m. March 13 at city hall. A public hearing before the city council will follow in April.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182