Kent City Council
Kent City Council passed an ordinance to rezone a three acre parcel located at 200 West Williams St. in Downtown Kent.
The zone was originally labeled as an “industrial zone” but two weeks prior to the April 17th City Council meeting Tom Meyers and his committed proposed the three acres be rezoned to “commercial-downtown (C-D.)” Meyers has 15 acres of land on Williams St. but is only rezoning the three acres.
“Although this parcel has had railroad tracks run through it over the years, it has never had any serious use as an industrial piece of property. In fact, it was probably zoned that way because an industrial operation owned it and not because it was used that way,” said Meyers.
Meyers stated at the April 3rd meeting that the acre of land had been in his family since about 1943. Meyers said there was three other owners of the land before his family got it. During the April 3rd meeting there was a public hearing for the rezoning.
Meyers argued that it made sense to rezone the 3 acres to C-D because the area adjacent to it is zoned that way. He also stated that the rezoning will help with the redevelopment of downtown Kent.
“We believe the proposed zoning change will help expand economic growth, development and job creation,” said Meyers.
He also said the proposed change meets the goals of Kent’s bicentennial plan by creating safe pedestrian walkways, creating jobs, connecting downtown to bike trails and facilitating economic opportunities for all of Kent.
At the meeting where the proposed change was initiated some of the council members voted no expressing concerns about the redistricting. The council members that brought up their concerns were Tracy Wallach, Robin Turner, John Kuhar and Heidi Shaffer. Though they voted yes to pass it tonight, they still brought up what they stated two weeks ago.
Wallach originally voted no on passing the ordinance. She said she voted no, not because she didn’t agree with the rezoning but she wanted to push it off so they could focus on the Mill District.
Turner is the ward council member that represents the area the parcel of land is located. He also did not pass the ordinance at the last meeting.
“Right now as the representative of the area which this proposal will be affected I have concerns. Especially as the impact of core downtown and that’s been something to discuss,” said Turner. “I would hope now to get behind the possible development of property to do and meet the highest and best use.”
Kuhar expressed the same concern as Turner about “highest and best use” but he also voted yes to pass the rezoning. Shaffer expressed her concerns about the rezoning following the bicentennial plan, saying she will fight to make sure it’s consistent with the plan and also the needs of the neighborhood.
It is still unclear what will actually be built on the three acres of land but the council members are working to make sure it’s the best use to help revitalize downtown Kent.
Written- Morgan Hallam
Video- Shaquiena Davis
