Apartment area rezoned;
skate park discussed
Platte City Board of Aldermen agreed Tuesday evening
to rezone two tracts of land.
Following a public hearing which had no opposition or
support from the crowd, aldermen approved the rezoning
of The French Studio Apartments just off of Main Street
across from Tony Martens Dodge from commercial conservation
district to R-3 multiple family dwelling and Ferrin Accounting
from CCD to C-2 general business district.
According to City Administrator Keith Moody, three lots
would be affected by the rezoning.
Martin House Realty, owner of the apartment complex,
wished to rezone the property to add two additional buildings
with four units each.
According to Moody, the property was not zoned R-3 because
in 1999 when rezoning was completed there were not two
tracts at the location, there was only one. Moody also
added that the tract couldn't be established R-3 then
without spot zoning.
Also affected by the rezoning was Ferrin Accounting.
Ferrin Accounting's property was rezoned in order to
prevent the creation of spot zoning, according to Moody.
In other action, aldermen voted to change the city's
supplemental insurance provider.
AFLAC has been the city's supplemental insurance carrier
since Jan. 1, 2000. The city has experienced problems
with service provided by AFLAC.
Aldermen approved to enter into an agreement with Dan
Beach of Allstate Insurance Services.
According to a report from Julie Pennington, city finance
officer, there will be no budget impact to the city. With
AFLAC, the city pays $285 per month per employee for insurance.
If the employee purchases more than $285, the difference
is payroll deducted.
The change will be effective July 1.
Aldermen also reviewed a resume letter from the Patterson
Law Group. The law firm represents other municipalities
on Tax Increment Financing Issues (TIF).
In previous meetings, aldermen have requested more information
on TIF. During Tuesday's meeting Moody gave several information
items to aldermen concerning TIF.
In a letter to aldermen Moody says that if aldermen intend
to move forward and establish a TIF Commission, special
counsel to help with the formation should be obtained.
Aldermen requested Doug Paterson of The Patterson Law
Group, attend the April 22 board meeting to answer any
questions.
TIF redirects an approved portion of certain local taxes
caused by the project to reduce project costs. The purpose
of TIF is to stimulate redevelopment of a project or a
designated redevelopment area that otherwise would not
occur.
Discussion was also made by aldermen for developing a
skate park in Platte City.
The idea of a skate park has been brought up at several
meetings by Alderman Gary Brown.
A proposed site adjacent to the Civic Center had been
an idea for the park, but according to Brown the property
was not satisfactory to the parks board.
The city had asked representatives from HNTB to give
them the pros and cons for placing a skate park on the
facility.
City officials say they have hit a wall with funding
for the park.
"We have talked about this a long time. We are not
against it. We have to keep looking to find a place where
we can do it. The next thing is to find the funding,"
Platte City Mayor Dave Brooks said. "The whole question
is where we are going to put it. The next question is
can they afford it."
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