7:34 pm
Meeting adjourned.
7:30 pm
Back in the City Council meeting, no comments from citizens as a whole or from Councilmembers, City Manager introduces a new Parks and Recreation director, also that City learned from blizzard tips for how to handle the next blizzard (laughter).
7:28 pm
blogger's notes: small turnout, only 18 people in the audience and that's counting City staff who are attending (e.g. Chief of Police, Economic Director, Planning). Also the City Attorney is the same as when I received a traffic ticket in Moore about 20 years ago.
7:26 pm
Next item of business, contract with a company to handle subgregation (sp?) type services. Item passes. They then go into Moore Public Works Authority meeting, Risk Management Authority (?), etc.
7:24 pm
Motion to deny the request made and seconded. Unanimous vote to deny the request.
7:22 pm
New City Center rep says one of the reasons it's so attractive is that it's an existing structure and that with a new building that advantage is lost. They also say that its possible to have 10 people who loudly say they don't want it versus 100 who don't say much.
7:20 pm
Sixth Councilmember doesn't really have a problem with it, says it would be nice to have a club locally to go dance at, seems that hearing the folks who have spoken tonight maybe that's not the right location but that there's a desire for this sort of establishment. They also raise a concern if they will be able to find another tenant for the property. General agreement amongst the Council that this is a tough decision and many remark they have changed their minds a couple of times tonight.
7:19 pm
Fifth Councilmember says it's not the majority of people who will be attending it's the 5% or so who are going to be a problem that concerns them.
7:18 pm
Fourth Councilmember says Moore is known as a bedroom community and cites "culture and vaules" of the City and that isn't the image that's desired.
7:16 pm
Second Councilmember says they've thought of it a bit and says a use like that really has to be in the proposed location to be that kind of use at all.
7:14 pm
Third Councilmember who was on the 2020 land use planning committee says that the strong desire was to have retail and, they're asked by a different Councilmember where such a business should live and they don't have an answer.
7:12 pm
Second Councilmember says their inclination is to not overturn the Planning Commission, and that this they've heard more from citizens on this issue than anything else in their seven years on Council and that the citizens have made their desires known.
7:09 pm
General discussion amongst the Council. One Councilmember says many citizens have been saying that it's not a location thing, it's just that they don't want it in Moore.
7:07 pm
Mayor asks Chief of Police his opinion, he says there's no perfect bars and that it will generate more calls for service than a retail service and that the Sheriff's Deputies will be basically citizens in uniform since they will be out of their jurisdiction.
7:06 pm
New City Center rep says when they speak of CLEET certified they are looking at using OK County Sheriff Officers to work security.
7:02 pm
Councilmember asks the New City Center rep if the folks looked elsewhere like S 19th and he says no, and that of the required property notifications to the zoning request only three were residences. Councilmember asks Planning what traffic plans are for the area, Staff says that re-work of 5th and I-35 intersection is being considered but nothing specific yet. Councilmember also asks Planning how long spot has been empty, New City Center rep says Ace Hardware vacated January, 2009.
7:00 pm
Third citizen speaks, property owner of a car wash in the vicinity of the property. Concern seems ot be about the proximity of the 5th street park to the location as well as possible vandalisim problems.
6:57 pm
Second citizen speaks, says there's a big difference between CLEET certified security and CLEET certified police and that security officers would work for business and look out for those interests rather than interests of City as police do. Feels this type of establishment would increase likleyhood of traffic accident.
6:55 pm
Citizen input starts, first speaker is concerned about security and noise, business like this would be better situated where there is already security and lighting.
6:54 pm
Councilmember asks if permissive use goes with the applicant or the property, City Attorney responds it sticks with the property not the applicant.
6:51 pm
"High-Impact Recreational Use" is what Staff sees the proposed use not a Retail use and that should it be allowed is a community decision.
6:49 pm
New City Center rep says only about 450 people in club on busiest nights, and that's only about 150 cars, "that's not a lot of cars". So far the discussion reminds me of the one a while back in Norman over Kongo's.
6:45 pm
New City Center representative is saying 74% occupancy rate, only 3% growth forecast, that City lost ~$45,000 in tax revenue last year, and that CLEET sertified security will be provided.
6:41 pm
Architect representing the owner of New City Center speaks to the Council. Plans are to have dance floor in the center of 12,000 sq ft facility. Plan are to make it easy for groups traveling to/from play dates elsewhere to stop and play. Folks wanting this change own a bar in Bricktown and one in Tulsa, estimate ~$94,000 tax revenue to City of Moore in the first year based on ~$2 million sales.
6:38 pm
Staff recommends against, saying that the intent of the retail/commercial area C4 in the 2020 land use plan didn't include a high-density entertainment use, suggests that if Council approves there be additional parking required and CLEET certified security personnel on-site. Staff says Planning Commission denied based on traffic concerns.
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