The potential rezoning of property on South Stubbs Road filled the Ulysses city council chambers with concerned residents of the neighborhood surrounding 950 South Stubbs Road during the final council meeting of the year December 23. The property, owned by Martin Hernandez, is zoned residential, but Hernandez and his business partner Chris Binney keep equipment such as truck trailers and pallets on the property as part of Binney’s business.
Binney approached the city council last October asking for a zoning change after he and Hernandez received code violations from city code enforcement. At the time, City Administrator Luke Grimes said he would get with code enforcement director Natalie Anguiano to see what could be done.
“I do realize there are a few things out there that could be cleaned up and I do realize that is kind of the richer part of town and we want to make it look a little bit presentable,” Binney said in October, adding a lot of the items on the property are from the two businesses he operates. “We have a lot of equipment out there like our trailers, there’s a few vehicles and stuff.”
The city council visited the issue December 23 after the zoning department had reviewed the issue and made a recommendation to the council.
The planning commission denied the rezone.
“Yes, the planning commission recommended to deny the request to rezone that property,” Grimes added.
Mayor Tim McCauley asked for any comments or discussion from the council or those from the neighborhood who gathered in the council chambers.
“I don’t see that we probably need to go against what … the commission’s there for a reason,” said commissioner Terry Maas. “They’ve done, I believe, their due diligence. I understand what Mr. Hernandez wants to do with it, but given the public response, I wouldn’t be in favor of it.”
Someone from the audience who did not identify herself said they just wanted a commercial piece of property to build a shop, with one truck, maybe two trucks there, at the most, once a week. They want a place to change the oil or tires on the trucks.
“I understand that,” Maas said. “I would say, given the close proximity to the houses around, that’s probably your biggest obstacle.”
Councilman Ken Warner said he understood both sides, but said if it were to be rezoned, “That opens it up to commercial. You may not plan it today, but maybe you change your mind and plan more tomorrow,” Warner said. “I think that’s the issue and concern the planning commission had.”
The council voted unanimously to deny the request.
The original letter from the city gave five days to come into compliance, which the property owner said was not enough time. Code enforcement said they would work with them, however. The council agreed to give the property owner until March 31.
In other action, the council agreed to give city attorney Lynn Koehn an increase in compensation to $44,000, with a 4 percent increase yearly after that.
The council also approved a Cereal Malt Beverage License for Kingpins.
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