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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />AUGUST 24, 1994 <br />appeared before the Council a month ago proposing to <br />spend $250,000 upgrading his building. O'Connell <br />stated that if another competitor locates in the City, <br />he may have to think twice about making that <br />investment. O'Connell questioned the ability of his <br />business to grow and remain successful should another <br />competitor locate nearby. O'Connell suggested that if <br />Abra locates on Rice Street, he may have to as well. <br />O'Connell requested that the Council not approve the <br />rezoning to allow auto body repair in the Business <br />District. O'Connell pointed out that the other body <br />shops in town had to locate in Industrial areas. <br />Hanson pointed out that it is not the responsibility of <br />the City Council to regulate competition, and that the <br />Council does not limit the number of auto body shops or <br />restaurants, for example, that can locate within the <br />City. <br />0'Connell reported that he is here this evening to <br />protect his interests, and keep his business successful <br />so he can keep paying his property taxes. <br />Bill Stenger, Stenger Auto Body, reported that he built <br />his building in 1976 and was told that he had to locate <br />in an Industrial area. Stenger indicated that he felt <br />changing the zoning code at this point to allow auto <br />body repair in the B-2 and B-3 Districts was unfair to <br />the other auto body shops in the City. <br />Rocky Waite felt it was a mistake to change zoninq for <br />one business. Waite pointed out that the Rice Street <br />area is the gateway to Little Canada. Waite <br />anticipated that there would be enforcement problems <br />with permitting auto body repair in the business <br />districts and imposing a lot of restrictions. Waite <br />felt that the Abra operation was a quality business, <br />but the next auto body repair may not be. Waite asked <br />that the Council keep the City's business community <br />looking businesslike. <br />Gabrielson pointed out the changing image of the body <br />shop which he felt was a retail a commercial use, not <br />an industrial use. Gabrielson felt the auto body shop <br />was no different than a tire or muffler shop, both of <br />which are already allowed in the business districts. <br />Gabrielson felt that with restrictions, an auto body <br />repair business was no different than any other retail <br />8 <br />