P & Z commission approves Capital Mall rezoning
Homeowners adjacent to the Capital Mall told ABC 17 News their concerns were heard at Thursday night’s Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.
The Commission approved a rezoning of Capital Mall and some surrounding land, so it could now go from C1 to C2 commercial zone.
City officials said there isn’t a lot of difference between the two classifications and the mall property should have already been classified C2. In this zone there are already several C2 characteristics, for example, the sign is nearly 30 feet tall, but in a C1 zone signs are limited to just 10 feet.
Several neighbors to the east of the mall came out tonight to see if a wooded area behind their homes would be in danger. Most were satisfied with what they heard.
“So far we’re happy and think it’s going to work out,” said Jim Tergin, who lives near the mall.
Tergin and his family have lived near the mall for decades. He and his neighbors came out Friday night to see what could happen to property on the mall’s east side that has sat vacant for years.
After the meeting, they were breathing a sigh of relief.
“There is still a bit of concern about the southeast corner lot and maintaining that as C1 and kind of understanding what the developers plans are for that corner lot. But what we were most concerned about is the buffer zone. That was created in the 1977 agreement between the mall owners and the residents of the neighborhood,” said Joe Bednar, who also lives near the mall.
The city actually initiated zoning changes and the mall developer is just going along with the city.
“We’re all ears to the suggestions that have been raised, and we’re going to do our best to accommodate as many people as we can,” said Robb Kingsbury with Farmer Holding Company.
Kingsbury went on to say there are some exciting times ahead for the mall. New landscaping, lighting, and facade changes are just a few things that will be happening in the next year. He said two years from now the mall will have a totally different look.
