Planning and Zoning - Regular Meeting

Uh we'll have a hearing on both of them. Whatever the result of the application is, it will be introduced at the city council meeting, the next city council meeting, which is the 8th. Are they going to have one on the 22nd? No. No, sir. So, it's just one this month. Just one this month.

So, they'll be introduced on the 8th of December. Uh technically there's not supposed to be any discussion, but if somebody can't make the meeting where they vote on it, it uh they sometimes will let them speak. So I would suggest anyone that wanted to be heard show up on the 8th and unless somebody gets to talk out of turn. U there's no reason to to do that, but I just put that out there just in case somebody wants to do it. So that would be then mean that our uh these applications for reszoning will be voted on on January the 12th. Is that correct? Second Monday of January. That's correct.

All right. Uh the procedure we'll follow today was we'll hear from the applicant or his designate. Then we'll hear from uh all persons uh in favor of the application. Then we will hear uh anyone opposing the application and there'll be a short rebuttal uh by the applicant or his design addressing solely the uh comments uh in the opposition. Then we'll move to discussion by commission members and then voting on the application. Our next meeting will be the 6th of January. Uh any any other comments, madame director? Is that

No, sir. Not at this time. Uh Roman number two, roll call, Miss Donna. Charles Whitehead the third here. Alexis Kai Howard. Bobby Claybornne here. Michael D. Lewis here. Sadie Sawyer. Isaac Bo Lewis. Ricky Mallister. Anita Devoir here. Walter Johnson here. All right. By my account that we have a quorum. That's correct. Five of nine.

Uh Roman three. Uh at the request of the office, we will defer um the uh approval of the minutes from the prior meeting. Uh till next time. Uh just for the public's information, the um these hearings are recorded and are available in the city city's YouTube channel at the city of Nagish um la.gov. U Roman number four, old business subsection A. The city council approved the application by Mr. Walter L. Dar to reszone the following location. A lot contains 0.38 acres shown as track 2A on a plat by Mr. Mr. Robert Lynon Davis, professional land surveyor, dated September the 8th, 2021, recorded in map slide 834B of the records of Nagash Parish, Louisiana from R1 to R1 special exception to operate a short-term rental bearing municipal address 1041 Washington Street. Uh I show no additional uh old business. Is that correct, Madam Director?

That's correct.

All right. Roman numeral 5 subsection A. the application by Mr. Brian Briggs to reszone the following location at the oil mill 6.2 two acres between Mill Street and the Union Pacific Railroad in section 77 township 9 north range 7 west of Nanglish Parish, Louisiana being a portion of the original track in conveyance book 195 folio 4 from B1 to include a U B3 special exception I guess technically a BA for operation of a restaurant with the exception to sell alcohol on the premises. Uh this is bearing municipal address 110 mil street exhibit number one in commissioner's packet council person district number one with the applicant or his designate come forward while we get a small summary from the um director.

This is actually quite a unique application for PNV. The applicant is requesting a tapestry type restaurant with a special exception to sell alcohol. The parcel of land currently is zone B3, which he does not actually have to make an application for. What he's making the application for is a special exception to sell alcohol. This area was actually created or is known as the Mill District Entertainment District. And the first parcel or the first industry or business that's there is brewery is the Flying Hearts Brewery. The way that that was actually established was through city council. City council because the parcel is actually owned by the city of Nagades. They're the owners. So because the city of Nagades owns that parse of land, they were able to create a lease agreement specializing or stating that the brewery can have a special exception to alcohol to sell alcohol. That was written up in their lease.

So for them to say it needs to come to PNZ was quite contrary to what we've done before. And let me ask you this, Madam Director. Um, is your understanding that the city council told Mr. Briggs to come to us? Is that correct? That's correct. And is it your further understanding that Mr. Briggs does not have a lease agreement with the city? No. Okay. I mean, I guess we could take it up, but I mean, you know, what's what I find problematic about it is in the BA district, it requires that an application uh be made by the owner or his lee. And it sounds like neither one, Mr. Briggs is neither one of them.

Correct.

Uh I guess tacitly the city has indicated that they would approve it, but you know, the devil's in the details with the leases. Um just just for the record, it's this is uh in the in the zoning. Let me get the exact citation so we can put it in the record. This is in the appendix B zoning regulations section two Roman numeral 2 districts subsection C I believe further subsection C which is business district further subsection 4 B which requires that the application be made by the owner or is lei Um so that that's you know just something I want to point out. Uh we have two other parcels that have uh within 700 ft of this that currently hold uh licenses R1 licenses to serve uh alcohol in association with the restaurants.

Yes. All right. Did uh have you, Madame Director, I see that you had quite a number of things that you sent out. Um did you get any responses? You received any phone calls? I didn't receive any negative phone calls. I had mostly questions asking what uh Mr. Briggs was was proposing. I didn't have any calls that actually opposed the application. Just more of curiosity. All right. Mr. Briggs, would you please state your name for the record and tell us what it is that you plan to do?

Yes, sir. My name is Brian Briggs. So, um, just give you guys a little bit of back history. So, um, tapis, as you guys see on the form, it's small plate food, right? This is originated in Spain. As we know the history of Louisiana, Spanish, French, Indian, Cajun, Creole, all of these things that food items that came from these countries and stuff ended up here. We became the melting pot, right? Um, my grandmother used to was very popular for meat pies in Naggers. She used to go to Central High School campus and sell meat pies on Central High School campus. Her name was Viney Mitchell. Uh to the point to where they kicked her off the campus because no one would buy food out of the cafeteria. They would all buy her meat pies. She was so popular that Lazons tried to buy the meat pie recipe from my mother and father and they refused to sell them to her. And you some of you guys of senior age may have known know my father. My father is Reverend Herman Briggs who used to sell meat pies throughout the city. Um, so since I've been back home, I came back home to have my mother of 91 years old because her health is declining. And since I've been back home, I've wanted to start up this restaurant, offer different small plate items. Um, I've lived in Atlanta, Georgia for 32 years. I've lived in Miami, Florida, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Hollywood, Florida, New Orleans, Louisiana, Santa Barbara, California, Dallas, Texas,

to name a few. But in all those places, I was able to bring or to experience different types of food, different type of cultures, stuff like that. I've been to Colombia, South America, uh, Cabo, Mexico, all these places. So what when I came back home I said you know I I would love to bring some type of experience that I've experienced back on to Nagas. M Mr. Briggs I I hate to interrupt you. Um but you realize that this is the audience you need to be speaking to. You need to get three votes up here. Understood. Understood. Understood. I just want to make sure you Understood.

You need to win the hearts and minds of the people up here. Okay. And the chance of you doing that with those folks would have been before you came here this evening. Uh so Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. No problem. You know, I encourage I encourage everybody when they get that 300 foot affidavit to go down the list and go talk to each and every one of those people in their kitchen that, you know, this type of forum is not the place to win the hearts and minds of the constituency over. It's Well, let me win your heart and mind, sir. I just I'm just pointing it out to you because I just think you're pitching to the wrong folks. Well, I mean I'm I think I'm speaking loud enough so everyone can hear. No problem.

All right. Um and what was your name again? My name is Charles Whitehead III. Mr. Whitehead.

Yes, sir. So, my purpose to come here and stand before you guys is to seek approval for me to be able to open this restaurant to be granted approval for to open up a restaurant that also sells alcohol. Um, the history of a tapest restaurant starting in Spain, it started out as a bar food, right? So when people would go to the bar and they would buy drinks, the small plates would be given as a free item and that's what lend it to over years of history coming to this point. So that's what I'm I'm wanting to offer to the people of Nagas in that particular realm. Um meat pod is just one of the items on on the menu. There are many different small food items that will be presented. Um I'm not sure there's a lot of you know when you go to a restaurant most time when people get there they they order appetizers. Some people are afraid or are embarrassed to order appetizer because they feel like, okay, well, if I if I just order appetizer and I don't order a main course that I'm looked at as different or cheap or inexpensive. But if you offer a a a place where there's mainly appetizers on the menu, then you can pair all those appetizers and get a taste of everything that's on that menu and not feel that way. So what I'm presenting to you is an opportunity not only just for me to bring this restaurant um to life but also the opportunity to open up and give jobs to people who need jobs to give a new experience to people who are looking for different experiences different food experiences different

cultures all of these things go hand in hand so um I want to apolog I apologize earlier for not speaking directly to you because I was I was trying to make sure the entire audience heard me. Um but that is that this is my purpose of being here today to present to you what this restaurant is all about, why I'm applying for the for the zoning to be reszoned. Um and um not only that, I'm aware of Flying Hearts and you know their you know approval process and everything and how they got approved and all that those things and like that. Um, so I'm I'm aware of everything that has taken place, but I'm I'm more excited about what I want to offer to give everyone an opportunity for a variety of food choices and entertainment in the in the area. So, if you have any questions, I'll be more than happy to ask answer them. is uh I I thought I'd heard something about a karaoke in this. Is this going to be entertained? Is it going to be contained inside the building?

Oh yeah, definitely.

So So if so Tapis restaurants that are in Atlanta, Georgia that where I frequented a lot. Um they offer entertainment options on different nights for individuals that come there and want to be a part of either a karaoke or want to be a part of spoken word and just listen to it and enjoy the ambiance. Um, most tapest restaurants that I've been to have had a single um, entertainer that maybe sitting there playing a a violin or maybe playing a saxophone or maybe playing a small piano to to to lend some entertainment to the space where people can sit down and enjoy their space and and you know enjoy their food and drinks at the same time. Um, do you think that uh your food's going to generate at least 60% of your gross revenue?

I have no doubt. Okay. Um, and you realize that if if this were to get approved, you still have to go through the leasing process with the city and get approved with the

Yeah, I've been in conversations with the city for about the past five months about the contract and stuff like that. Um, but I think they wanted me to first go through this process first. So I'm like, "Hey, whatever whatever direction you want me to go in, I I'll whatever whatever it needs, I I'll go that route." So, Mr. Chairman, to me, seem like we should have that lease agreement from the city before we address this.

Well, I'm not so sure that we need the lease, Mr. Johnson, but he needs to in my appreciation of it, he needs to be a lesie. He has no standing. Yeah.

I mean, you know, I I was talking with the madam director who, for you all that don't know, she came over to us from the utility department from utility billing. And you know, when somebody would come to her and wanted to have the electricity turned on at a particular location, she'd say, "I need to see your deed or I need to see your lease." And if you don't have either one of those, you got no right to have your electricity turned on. Exactly. There. And I to me this statute is now the BA district is written differently than the other reasonings. Th this one specifically requires that be the owner or his le. Uh I mean typically on the other things we take permission you know we make sure they have permission to request that but this actual statutes require them to be the owner or the lei must apply that's just I mean I don't know how you uh

don't shoot the messenger hey they told me to show up at on this date and this time and I'm here I understand and we're just having a discussion we have No problem with you opening a restaurant. We don't have any issues with that. But just the process. No, I understand. I I agree. I' I've been trying to Trust me, I've been trying to dot all of my eyes and cross all of my tees so that everything is is in alignment with opening the restaurant. Like I said, I've been dealing I've been going through this process for the last six months. This is not this is this isn't like last week. I just started this. This is six months.

I understand. and I've been given the runaround for six months. Well, it sounds like it sounds like something that Nacades needs. U we need something different in Nackage. Really? I agree. But like you say, we need to know uh I agree, but can we we need we need a proper we need a lease agreement in we've got a unique situation in that it requires to have these two things. But the really unique thing about this is that this is a ordinance. I mean, the city has the vote on it and they're the owner.

So, it's not like um it's not like it's some third party owner. I mean, I you know, my thought would be is that we entertain the application today and tell the city council we're not going to do it anymore. Uh that that they're going to have to thrash some of this out because I think they're trying to make us the whipping boy on this deal. Correct. Um, I mean, even if we decide, if council decides to approve it, I mean, he doesn't have to have approval for the restaurant. The property is already zoned for that. Our approval is for the special exception to do alcohol. Even if we do that and we approve that, city council still has to make a lease agreement saying that they're going to lease this property to Mr. Briggs to operate the task force.

And and and they have to approve our recommendation to reszoneing. Correct. So, I mean, they get to it. Like I say, it's not like it's some third party's property. We've got the unique situation here where the people that are going to vote on uh changing the zoning are the actual owners. So, I'm not so sure that that wouldn't cure that. Well, they put the court before the horse. That's right. In that's what I'm thinking.

But, I mean, I they don't they don't read this. you know, we're the only ones, you know, you've got other than three or four other people that are not here today, uh the people that read this ordinance, this uh exhibit, uh appendix A and appendix B are all contained in this room and they're not and that's the only one that's in there at city council meeting that uh reads these things and looks at it. Uh but u does anybody have any more questions for Mr. Briggs? I'd like to make a comment though.

Sure. My daughter and I just the other day uh we went to uh one of these in Dallas and she lives in Dallas and uh we thought it would be something that would go over nice in Nagish because it offers uh small plates that can be mixed and matched in variety to give you a different sample of different other things. Uh the one we went to was like in Argentina one which uh dealt with different cuts of meat and it was absolutely gorgeous. But uh for me naggedish needs to have a little bit more variety because uh you know since uh most of the the bigger chains uh Ryan's and other places have left we we don't have very much variety here. And uh I just like to say that we could let the the city do what they have to do, make, you know, the changes they have to make, but uh I think it's something that's needed and uh I'm more geared for it.

All right. Any more questions or comments? That be would that be in that Flying Hart building? No. Next to next right across from it probably about it's the building that that runs along the on the street. Oh, that's right across from between the office and the old scape. Yeah. Okay.

Have you discussed with the city about the alcohol issue? Because you know when you got a lot of people if they own a certain property if a another one of they tenants sell alcohol and a lot of times they don't want that other person sell alcohol. You know it's a it's kind of like I'll give you an example uh the shopping center over here uh Dix Broadmore Broadmore the one with Broadmore. Okay. Those people have a a policy like that, but they don't want when when I think they uh put uh shop right in there.

Mhm. It's something where they came up with they didn't want anybody else doing alcohol in that particular area. Well, that's I'm just saying before you dump a bunch of money into it, I would make sure that everything is that's for carry out. Um, what you're speaking of? No. Uh, you you talking about consumption on premises, right? Yeah. As a restaurant. So, that's different. As a restaurant. So, so when he spoke about only people in here read the ordinance and stuff, I read the ordinance. what I'm talking about as well. That brewery, don't they have the brewery right there? All that's all there together, right? Yeah. The brewery sell alcohol, right?

But the city doesn't have But that's that's for cuz you can't stop another restaurant from the restaurant. But I just make sure you know, like I said, I don't have a issue with the Walter. He better he better be getting his lease squared away before that's what that's what get make sure the city knows your intent. Oh, they know. They they have the city has my proposal and everything. They they know my intent for 6 months. I've spoken with everybody over there.

All right. Any any more questions for Mr. Briggs? Is anyone else here to speak on behalf of the application of Briggs? If not, um I'd hear from opposition uh to the Briggs application. Mr. Briggs, if you'll have a seat and I would ask you to pay attention to whatever the opposition is because your rebuttal will be limited to those topics that are brought up in opposition. Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

Anyone want to speak in opposition to the application of Briggs? Uh, thank you for the opportunity to visit with you this evening. My name is John Leort and my wife and I live directly across Cain River from the Mill Street area. We received a letter from the planning and zoning department informing us of a request to reszone a portion of the Mill Street property to operate a restaurant with low high consumption on premises. As background information for you, the Riverbank was recently cleared of vegetation except for a few mature trees. This clearing has allowed for a significant increase in lights from businesses and vehicles and noise which travels across the water. We were told landscaping would be part of this river bank project to help with these issues. However, several entities are involved in the landscaping and they are still waiting on approval from the Department of Transportation and Development. But even with the hope for approval and landscaping, it will take time for mature growth to occur. The following are areas or my main concerns my wife and I have. Number one, increased night noise from bands and sound systems. Number two, increased vehicle and pedestrian traffic entering and exiting this area. As the entrance to this area is directly located across the river from our home. So cars exiting this area with car light shine directly into our

home. Cars parking in the parking lot facing our home, their light, car lights shine directly into our home. Number three, an increased building light shining toward our home at night. Number four, increased loss of privacy of our backyards and home. Number five, and customers remaining on the premises after closing. In conclusion, we are very concerned about the reasonzoning of this area for a business we have very little knowledge of and want to go on record in opposition to this reszoning of the alcohol permit. Thank you for your consideration. Any questions for Mr. Leort?

Mr. the board. How do you tie these exact comments that you have to the serving of alcohol? Wouldn't you have these same deals if this gentleman uh decided to simply open a restaurant without uh alcohol?

Well, I have gotten word that and I don't know exactly the term. Mr. Briggs used the term that violins and saxophones. Um, I've heard alcohol to be served with karaoke nights, open mic nights, additional types of jazz bands, bands are coming to appear at that restaurant with an increased use of alcohol and music. We see or foresee an increase in loud music, noise and traffic in that area. I guess I guess my question was how do you relate that specifically to the alcohol and not just restaurant operations? H how how does the all these complaints that you have one would have with an restaurant a successful restaurant that didn't serve alcohol.

Right. So I I'm trying to and of course he can if he so chooses the only thing he needs to open a restaurant over there is a lease from the city and a permit from this lady and technically a permit from the tax commission. So the restaurant can be opened tomorrow uh or whenever that those things can get squared away. And so the sole issue here is whether we would grant alcohol uh the ability to serve alcohol in conjunction with this restaurant. And I I don't see any one of these things that wouldn't occur with a successful restaurant that didn't serve alcohol.

So I'm I'm trying to correlate the complaints with the application. Well, my concern is again with the noise increase with music at night um with the u karaoke bands, different kind of programs going on at night and the music which is directly across the river from our home. I am very concerned about this. Yes, the addition of lights. Yes, the addition of traffic. Yes, if a restaurant was to open up just solely a restaurant, at what point in time is it going to change to another zoning classification? So, we're very concerned about the increase in the activity over there, but especially because of the activity of of alcohol involved in that situation or increased use of alcohol in that area.

I I don't understand your comment about the changing zoning.

Well, okay. You say just go ahead and just open a restaurant. Okay, we do that right now. Then again, a year, two years from now, we're right back here because we want to have a reszoning of that particular area. And I can see that for hap that per happening perhaps. Well, anytime someone comes with an application and their application fee, they get their day in they could they can come uh and apply for reszoning. The only time that they're prohibited, correct me if I'm wrong, madame director, is they come before us and are denied and go before the city council and denied that they're they're given a moratorum of six months before they can reapply. But the idea that I mean things have to evolve and I I still I still don't understand uh I mean you keep talking about the increased traffic, the increased noise, the increased light, uh all this kind of stuff. Uh there is we have in some of the ordinances the ability to require them uh you can complain to have them shield that light where they're not not going there. If the noise is exceeding the noise ordinance, you have the ability to contact the police department. I'm trying to I am trying to correlate these complaints and with the alcohol and nothing I've heard of your complaints would not be additional complaints not be the same complaints for a successful alcohol. None of the successful restaurant that didn't serve alcohol. All these complaints talk about a thriving business um that's putting more traffic in what was until recently an industrial zone. Um you know uh I I just I I don't I don't see the correlation between these

complaints and the request. Well, again um I stand by my original statement. I'm in opposition to this this zoning for for alcohol consumption. I understand. Any more questions for Mr. Leward? Yeah. The uh brewery that the brewery that's over there, don't they have uh concerts and different things at different times? Yes, sir. That bother you? It started at first, but that has been corrected. Apparently, they went through and did a lot of insulation on the inside of the building is contained and within being in the historic district, they are confined to certain hours that they can have music. Good. Chairman. Yes, ma'am.

This district was actually created created as an entertainment district. Correct. That's what I understand. Okay. So, with that being said, before this business would actually open, there are rules and regulations that he would have to apply to. Just as uh we addressed issues with flying heart, if there were issues and he was approved, the installation of his building would be taken into consideration. Lighting would be taken in consideration and anything else that we felt would be a violation would also be considered. So it wouldn't like be that he would just come in and just do whatever he wants. Okay?

There would be certain certain things that he would have to adhere to. There are noise ordinances. There are times when things would have to be shut down and he would have to either comply or his business will be ended. And of course, Mr. Lord, as you and I spoke about, that's something you can address with the city, assuming this gets approved. the the next thing he's got to do is negotiate terms of his lease with the city

and that has to be u that has to be in front of the negotiations might be behind the scenes but the uh the lease has to be put before the city council and has to be uh subject to a public hearing. So, you know, as I had indicated to you, that that may be some of the places that you can put some of these safeguards if they're not already in there if they don't borrow from the brewery from the original brewery lease and what they've learned subsequently,

you know, I mean, that to me is is the place to take care of this because to to a large extent, I I think once they put put this thing as an entertainment district, I I think they pretty much that's a solemn expression of the legislative will of the city. Um, but anyway, that's just my opinion. Well, I do appreciate your time and consideration. No problem.

And and going along with what you're saying, I would hope that the city at some point would sit down and do some type of plan of action of what type of businesses they would like as opposed to just you want to open a bar, go to the Mill Street area. You open a bar, go to the Mill Street area. And hopefully the city will implement some type of long range comprehensive plan to address some of my concerns and concerns of other people in the area. Well, you know, we've had that problem, Mr. Labour, uh, repeatedly over here for the last four decades. In fact, Dale Nielsen told me, uh, one time before I was on this planning and zoning commission, he said, "I've stood where you were, and I shook my fingers at the people up here, and I said, "If you boys and girls did more planning, you'd have less zoning issues."

And I'm not sure it's gotten better in four decades, Mr. Well, good. Thank you for your consideration. Thank you. Anyone else want to speak in opposition to the application of Briggs? Please come forward, ma'am, and state your name and tell us what your concerns are.

Hello, my name is Brenda Meldder. Um, I'm a retired educator from Nakash Parish and my concern that I had was the target group. Talking um with Mr. Um, Briggs, he said he was targeting the 18 to 35 year old. On his website or somewhere on Facebook, it said a place for college students to gather. My concern is I've seen far too many of the young people that I've worked with go into these bars and terrible things happen to them. I've known several of them to die because at the hand of different things that have have t have taken place. 18 to 35, 18 year olds are not allowed to drink alcohol. It is against the law. How do we plan to mitigate that? How do we plan to mitigate noise that's going to be made in this district to protect our livelihood? We are all have uh John and I grew up in Nacades. We were educated in Nacades. We worked in the system. We've been paying taxes in this city for a very very long time. When will our concerns about the noise and the things that go on in our city will be listened to? I care about kids. I care a lot about them. And I don't want to see another one go to a parking lot in a bar area, get stabbed, and we have to go to a funeral. What are we going to do to protect it? That's all I'm asking. We have to think about the safety of all people in parking lots. What are we going to do? who's going to come and us provide the security that's needed in these parking lot areas. We go to Flying Hart all the time with our children, our families. It's a family place that we need in Nacades. Topas bars. I've been to one in Spain. They're fabulous, but they're all family environment. All kids can come with their families to these

types of things. So, let's think about that. What are we doing? What are we what are we promoting here? Do we want that for our college kids? to be in a bar area. Do we need an entertainment, family entertainment or student entertainment where we can feed them when they're hungry and not worry about if they're consuming alcohol? What are we going to do? That's all I'm asking. Thank you very much. Any questions for Miss Meldder? Thank you, Miss Meldon. Any anyone else uh want to speak in opposition to the application of Briggs? Let me ask a question. Sure.

This is a It's a restaurant that that serves alcohol, right? Not a bar. Is it going to be a bar or a restaurant to to qualify for what he's doing? And that's why I asked the question, uh, you're going to serve 60% uh 60% of your gross revenue is going to be uh food food. And because if it's not, he can't hold his liquor license, right? Because it's an R1. In this historic district, you cannot have a bar. You can only have a restaurant, right? And the definition of a restaurant is 60% uh gross sale food. Does that that answer what you want, Mr. Yes. All right.

Yes, sir. Please state your name for the record.

Michael Leort. I live on South Williams across the river. lived there my whole life. Before the clearing of the land, we had somewhat of a buffer with vegetation. It may not look the best, but it provided a buffer for us. Traffic, lights, noise, whatever it may be. When they cleared it, we lost that. All our privacy of our backyards is gone. I have a small family. We spent a lot of time back there. And now the privacy from across the river, we have no more. I understand they're supposed to put vegetation, but what's the plan to put vegetation in to mitigate that? Um, I'm not going to touch on the alcohol. That's already been addressed. The only thing I will say, who's going to monitor if 60% of the sales go to food?

The tax commission is vested with that. Okay. So, it is it is monitored and controlled. Yes. I didn't say that. I said the tax commission is vested with that responsibility. Fair enough. And just so you know, Mr. Lord, where you and your parents are was not admitted to the city until 55. And that um gin and uh industrial site has been in the city since the prior the turn of the prior century. So that stuff has been there longer than South Williams been developed because the center line of Kaiser Avenue was the city I think was it 55 when they added that something like that 55 or

I've lived there my whole life. I've seen the mills. I've seen the lights come in and again when we had the vegetation of the trees we had a buffer. Now we have no buffer from any traffic across the street in the parking lot. I sit in my dining room table and have dinner. Lights are constantly shining straight in where they used to not. My concern is what's going to be done to plant some type of shrubbery, trees. Is there going to be some type of buffer in place to block out lights, traffic, and any added noise that might occur? I I would encourage you to contact the mayor's office and your council person and the council person at large about that. That's not within our purview, Mr. Lord.

Okay. Well, it was to this was to address my concerns. That's what I was here to do. Okay. Any questions for Mr. Board? The younger. Thank you, sir. Uh, anyone else want to speak on the application of the opposition the application of Mr. Briggs? Hearing none. Mr. Briggs, can we have a short rebuttal to the comments made by the two labboards and Miss Melbourne?

Yes. So just to address um your initial comments and also yours um based on what I'm hearing a lot of your concerns are created by someone else because I'm not even an entity that when you speak of, you know, traffic and noise and and I think you said something about my proposal in regards to karaoke and things of that nature. Um when I when I speak when I spoke with Miss Brock in reference to what I needed and how I had it that needed to go about this um what ordinance that I needed to follow. Um I made sure I went down everything in detail to understand that I understand your situation. I understand your position. understand where you sit across the river. Sound carries on water. I get it. Um, but I'm not even there yet. Everything that that you're hearing, you're seeing is already there. When I come in, prayfully, when I come in, I have to say I have to follow those same rules and regulations for insulation. um making sure everything is is tight and buttoned down. Um ma'am, you spoke about someone getting stabbed in the parking lot and

18 year olds are shot in the parking lot. I'm not sure what establishment you're talking about, but I don't think it happened over at Mil Street. Um, when I speak when I spoke about 18 to 35 year old 18 year olds got to eat. 35 year olds got to eat. I'm 57. I got to eat. I'm trying to provide food choices for people that also gives them other choices of drinks, beverage, entertainment. That's it. Point blank period. I'm not trying to get no no violence cuz I don't want violence. Violence is not good for any business. None. Point blank. Period. Um I think that we all have a concern about the city of Nagas and and what takes place in the city of Nagas for violence and stuff like that. I don't think this side of the water has no more concern than the other side of the water. It doesn't. We all have the same amount of concern. But we all should be given the same opportunity to be successful in whatever business venture we go into and not be condemned before we even open the door. Um, like the panel said, everything I'm doing right now is just speaking and introducing myself and introducing my proposal and business plan and everything. What I'm doing, I still got to get a lease agreement,

nothing from the city. I still got to go through these whole other processes of getting that busted up. This is this isn't this isn't something that I just jumped up last week and say, "Hey, I want to put me on the agenda and let me go sell my idea." You know, everything I'm doing, I want to do it to and not just for me, you know. I'm a I'm a true believer of what I go through in life is not for me. What I experience here is not for me. It's for the next generation to understand that they can also do something positive. They can open a restaurant. They can start a business. Whatever the case may be, but these are the steps that you have to take. And I'm willing to go through those steps to help the next generation to or to also enlighten you guys on what someone else vision is or where someone else like you said you ate you've been to a tapest restaurant. I'm sure your experience was totally different than mine. He's been to a tapest restaurant. His experience was totally different than yours.

Mr. Briggs, let me let me interrupt you. your rebuttal is limited only to the concerns that these folks had. There was safety, there was lighting, there was that kind of stuff and we're rehashing the same thing over again. Rebuttal rebuttal is simply to address the concerns that they had, not to go through a historical uh or a platitude discussion. I meant uh do you have anything else specifically? I mean, young Mr. Labour said he wasn't going to address the alcohol, so I'm not even sure you got something to rebut there. Uh, and Mr. Mr. Labour talked about the lighting and the traffic and the noise and that things. And Miss Melder talked about general safety of uh that. I mean, those are really the the topics that you need to stick to and

I've addressed all of those. All right. All right. Any any did that open any more doors for any more questions for miss members of the commission? No. Discussion by commission members. Can I make a motion? Sure. I move to approve. Motion by Duboce to approve. Second by Clayurn. All in favor say I. I. All oppose like sign.

Uh we'll show that unanimously carry. Uh Miss Donna. I guess you'll let Miss Donna know that. Uh we'll show that carried. Our next uh Mr. Briggs, you heard what I said is that it's introduced on the 8th. Uh it's not supposed to be discussed, but sometimes they do. It'll be up for final voting on January the 12th. Yes, sir. And just stay in touch with Miss Rock. Um, I don't think anything will uh happen or transpire in in the meantime, but as it stands right now, those are the regularly scheduled meetings that are gets you before this ordinance. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Briggs. We appreciate your time. Thank you.

Roman numeral 5 new business subsection uh B the application by Mr. Frank Griffin to reszone the following location. A lot on the north side of Poet North by Bayern left east by Johnson. West by the by Mar one to R3 special exception to operate a short-term rental 208 Poet Street exhibit number two in the commissioner's packet council district number four. Mr. Griffin, would you come forward while we get a brief summary from the director?

This is u a small home on Poet Street. Um, it's been vacant, I think, for a minute. I think the owners are wanting to utilize the property as a short-term rental. All right. And you I saw that you had quite a few um quite a few letters you sent out. Correct. What uh any comments, any response to any of those?

I didn't have any comments. I didn't have any inquiries. I didn't have anything concerning the property. Um, Mr. Griffith, please state your name for the record. My name is Stea Price. I'm a realtor for Kain River Realy and a property manager. I will be um managing the property for Mr. Frank Griffin who's also a local resident here in Nacadesh. your comments uh from the director uh after I summarized the application. Is there anything you need to add to that for us?

Uh no sir, what we was trying to do was the house is an older house that he had just purchased and uh it's already divided into um three different units at this point. it was that way prior to purchase and so we was just asking to reszone and um I'm actually in the intention right now of going ahead and fully furnishing uh two of the units. I would like to go ahead and just let them be just normal executive rentals um in the process so he's not sitting there without rent. And uh you're familiar with uh ordinance number 26 of 2024 with regard to short-term rentals and the requirements therein?

Yes, sir. All right. Any questions for this young lady from commission members? Has the proper parking? Yeah, that's has the proper parking. Uh yes, sir. We had went last night and got approval from the historic to pour uh the gravel back uh where it's already cut out and it was an original parking area. It's nothing's being changed at this point. They're just regraveling that. So you say you got three units in that building? Yes, sir. So you got at least what? Three, four parking spaces parking. How many? They have existing parking. Um, and then they're adding additional parking,

but it's compliant parking. It is compliant parking. All right. Anyone else to speak on behalf of the application of Griffin? Is there any opposition to the application of Griffin? No opposition. I was just here at all the ones in our neighborhood to see what they had planned to do with it. you know the reason whether it's going to Airbnb or whatever it's going to be and also where the parking is the parking gravel going to be in the back. Yes, ma'am. Between the house and the bridge and the bike. Yes, ma'am.

Okay. Cuz there's there is a lot of on street parking and there's no handicap accessibility. Our son's in a wheelchair and poet there's no sidewalks along there that's handicap accessible. So, he has to travel by the street and that's something I'm going to take up with the mayor soon if I can. So, I'm glad to know that. Yes, ma'am. The the intention was to get the cars off the street and put them behind right where the parking was. That's good. No opposition here. I can't speak for my neighbors, but discuss discussion by commission members.

None. Make a motion we approve. Duvo, second by Lewis. All in favor say I. I. All oppose like sign. All right. That stand carried. You heard the comments. I assume you were in here when I was telling Mr. Briggs about introduced on the 8th of next week and then for final voting on the 12th of January. Yes, sir. All right. Thank you, ma'am. We appreciate your time. Uh that's all the new business. Madam director, that's it. Roman numeral uh five report of office activities. No office activities at the moment.

I don't want to keep us long, but uh have have you thought any more about us charging uh getting them to change our our uh application fee to include sending uh I mean, God knows how you sent more than $50 worth of mail out for this deal about adding some uh postage postage or a dollar of letter or $2 a letter or something like that. we've taken into consideration. We just haven't gotten everything approved and put into place yet. I just I mean I just looks like we literally didn't even break even on the postage on that last No, not at all. Not to mention the time your ladies put in preparing all that.

Correct. All right. Uh that's it. That's it for that Roman numeral 7 adjournment. Make a motion to adjourn. Motion by Clayman, second by Dubo. All in favor say I. All oppose like sign. All right.