Board of Aldermen meeting recap

by Jake Hipsher, Grain Valley News Intern

     Grain Valley’s Board of Aldermen met for a regularly scheduled meeting on July 11th in the Council Chambers of City Hall. 
     During the citizen participation portion of the meeting, resident Scott Shafer voiced his concern regarding a recent vote taken on the door buzzer and building access system installed at City Hall.
     “I’m glad that the rest of the board approved keeping the buzzer on the door, but again I'm disappointed that one of my aldermen would vote no on it, especially a retired first responder that should know safety first. I hope in the future Alderman Arnold will keep staff safety in mind over the small-town feelings when he makes a vote,” Shafer said.
     A public hearing regarding a zoning change for The Lofts at Creekside Landing was held to allow for the development of four apartment buildings containing 24 units in each building. The development is located east of NW Sni-A-Bar Parkway where NW Sni-A-Bar Blvd. dead ends to the east. 
     Alderman Dale Arnold voiced his doubts on the development, stating that there would be a “significant congestion issue.” 
     Bryan Roly, a representative from the multi-family housing development, claimed that he understood the doubts. Roly assured the board that there will be a final plan to be reviewed before moving forward. 
     “So these are definitely things that we've gone through, we've considered, as we've pulled this project together. So we think that we can come up with the best fit that can both work for the project, to make the project viable, and to address those concerns,” said Roly. 
     The next item in the public hearing dealt with the Zoning Regulations Amendment towards Chapter 400 of the city’s Code of Ordinances. The changes made would prohibit the use of certain accessory buildings and would change how automobiles could be parked in resident’s yards. The board was quick to discuss how these changes would be met with public resistance.
     “It’s taking the government reaching a little too far,” said Alderman Dale Arnold. 
     The Board also approved a resolution authorizing the sale of nearly $14 million in general obligation bonds to allow for the new police station facility. Jack Ryan Feldman, a representative from Baker Tilly municipal advisors reviewed plans for the sale, and the resolution passed unanimously.
     The next ordinance, B22-21, revisited the zoning change for The Lofts at Creekside Landing. With the concerns voiced earlier in the meeting, the board was hesitant to move forward with the ordinance.
     “I would entertain a motion to table this bill with the caveat that it would go back to Planning and Zoning for further discussion,” Mayor Todd said.
     With two members absent and a majority vote of four needed to pass an ordinance, the ordinance failed to pass. 
​     The next Board of Aldermen meeting is scheduled for July 25th at 7:00pm, located in the Council Chambers of the Grain Valley City Hall.