April 21st Meeting Agenda
City Council Agenda
Monday, April 21, 2008 ~ 7:00 p.m.
Law Enforcement Center ~ 1601 E. Main St
1. Call to order.
2. Pledge of Allegiance.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
3. Consider adopting an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Fredericksburg relating to
“formula,” chain,” or “standardized” type businesses in the downtown area.
NEW BUSINESS
4. Consider application #08-08 by Dahmen Brown to remove Historic Landmark Rating from
property located at 102 S. Cherry.
5. Consider sale/purchase of land – E. Ufer St.
COMMENTS
6. Public Comment.
7. Council Comment.
I read all comments and reply directly to the authors by email for follow-up. -Tom
Tom—–I don’t have really strong feelings about chain/formula stores in the downtown area but i would lean towards not allowing that type of business there because it would take away from the ambiance. However, it would really be nice for the locals to have more choices for our everyday, mundane purchases. Chain stores, especially medium priced clothing stores on the edge of town would be great—-I guess that’s a different story. Thanks for keeping us informed and representing us. Carol Goad
Tom, I know you and I know that you have given this agenda about chain/formula much thought for the good of all the citizens of Fredericksburg. Being a little older and having a home here for over 25 years I miss the “old town” but also understand we cannot have it the way you and I know 25 years ago.
So, we support you and the council as I know it will be a “balanced” decision.
Thanks again for all you and the others do for Fredericksburg.
Bob and Sandra
Tom, as you know, I lived in New Mexico for a short while before I moved to Fredericksburg in 1978. Back then, Santa Fe was unique because of an ordinance that required all of the buildings in the downtown, commercial district to be built in the pueblo architectural style. This uniformity of style brought many tourists and new businesses to the city. Something similar might be considered for downtown Fredericksburg. All new buildings, and renovations to existing ones, might be required to have the old German-style architecture, regardless of the type of business installed inside the buildings. If this were done, it might be possible to have both chain-store businesses and “regular” stores in the downtown district. That way, both the locals and the tourists could have what they want in terms of both aesthetics and economy.
I miss living there, friend. Good luck with your decisions in this matter.
Tom
I can’t get very excited about the formula ordinance. Given the fact that there are already chains on Main, and given the signage and architectural restrictions already in place, I feel that the cure is worse than the disease. While the city needs to do what is desireable in terms of cultivating our appeal to shoppers, the diminution of proprty rights is severe. No business, regardless of whether it is an affiliate of a larger entity will survive unless it attracts sufficient customers to operate profitably. I also feel that the footprint of the proposed ordinance is too large.
Because the tourist industry is an economic staple in this community, and because we are an historic town, we need to maintain both the tourist trade and the historic character. By limiting chain/formula stores to areas other than Main Street, I think we accomplish both goals. I heartily support such limitations.
Thanks for your efforts in this matter.
Tom, I am sure your mind has been working overtime considering the decision at hand. I must say I don’t envy the decision any of you have to make tonight. I hope you will take into consideration though the significant opposition to this ordinance that has surfaced over the past weeks. This is a very heated issue and at this time I feel as though it is simply too soon to pass this ordinance. I implore you to consider voting down the ordinance or making a motion to take additional time to invest in further research. Wouldn’t it be better to make this decision, or any decision, when there is a better grasp of the potential negative impacts we could be facing, or when there is more hard proof supporting the need for such an ordinance. I know the Council will not ever have 100% buy-in from all members of the community on any issue, but with this issue having such a tremendous impact on so many, wouldn’t it be better to have more of a clear majority buy-in which I simply don’t think exists at this point.
Thank you for taking the time to consider these points.
Tom,
Thanks for all your hard work on considering the formula business ordinance. Our family owns three building on Main in the downtown historic district. I personally have been in the real estate business for the past 31 years and my father the past 56 years in all these years we have managed rental properties across town and many in the historic district. I have had numerous folks talk to us about finding leases for different chain stores but not one of them requested in the downtown historic district. Fredericksburg has had the foresight in the past to create ordinances to protect the historic areas, the historic review board, sign ordinances, etc. Either one of these would stop 99% of chain stores from trying to go into the downtown historic area. I could go on and on about this but I believe I will close with this. There are enough ordinances in place at this time to protect the historic area, private property rights along with what property owners can do with their properties should be placed in a higher regard. I will not be able to attend tonight but wish you well in a difficult decision.