Williams Bakery requests site-review zone change
Students and community members are encouraged to attend a public hearing on a zone-change request by Williams Bakery, Jeff Nelson of the Fairmount Neighbors Association said. Located just east of campus, Williams Bakery, the targeted site for the University's new basketball arena, is looking to change zones from one requiring a site-review overlay to one that doesn't.
The Fairmount Neighbors Association unanimously passed a resolution earlier this month stating its opposition to the zone change request.
Nelson said he doesn't know why the request is being made but that the association is concerned about what a lack of a site review could mean for the neighborhood surrounding the bakery.
"Site review is important because it does look at compatibility with the neighborhood," Nelson said. "Without the site review overlay you could just apply directly with the city and have no public hearing."
A proposal last fall to build a cell phone tower in the same neighborhood was subject to a site review and consequently turned down, Nelson said.
He said because the rezoning involves a neighborhood heavily populated by students, it is crucial students are aware of the request and the implications it could bring to the surrounding neighborhood.
"I think the students are underrepresented in this zone change," Nelson said.
The hearing will take place at 5 p.m. today in the Sloat Room of the Atrium Building, 99 W. 10th Ave.
maghanncuniff@dailyemerald.com
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