Clark Gilman and Robert Vandepool both had this right from the get-go: it was an effort to change a regulation so an existing land owner could sell his land to Burger King, and in the process make the Plum Street mess even worse.
Fortunately, Councilmembers Madrone and Huyhn listened carefully, and reached the right decision.
It was good to see the Council having an open and honest disagreement in public. So often they are prepped by the City Manager in (probably unlawful) serial one-on-one meetings, so that by the time an issue comes before the Council, the sausage is already made.
Councilmember Cooper had it exactly wrong when he pleaded for "gentle treatment" for a family-owned business. Casa Mia is not going to put in a drive-through for ravioli! They were going to sell it to a fast food operator.
The decision to defer any changes to a sub-area planning effort, encompassing the area from State Street to I-5, Plum to Eastside street, is the right step to take. That area is a mixed bag of commercial, office, retail, gas stations, veterinary, and miscellaneous other uses. A vision is needed for this entrance corridor to our city. That planning effort should come before any spot zoning changes like the one rejected Tuesday night.
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