Bar's request passes to
committee
By Heather Mangold
City
Editor
West Lafayette council members passed an ordinance
that would affect local businesses' intentions to add outdoor seating
on to the
West Lafayette planning and zoning committee on
Tuesday.
After much anticipation, Boiler Room owner Chris
Watson said he was surprised that the issue was passed on to committee.
"It's definitely a good thing," said Watson. "This
will give us more time to prepare."
Watson intended to build a rooftop patio onto Boiler
Room's roof but his actions were put on hold after the Tippecanoe County
Area Plan Commission voted to recommend to the city council that the
new space may require additional parking.
Watson said the parking issue was his number one
contention, due to the fact that free parking is available in the Grant
Street Parking Garage after 5 p.m. on Fridays until 8 a.m. on Mondays.
Brad Windler, D-1st, and other council members
suggested that the amendment did not take into consideration the fact
that a large amount of pedestrian traffic is not factored into the commission's
decision to require more parking for West Lafayette businesses.
Windler also said he was surprised that the ordinance
was passed on to committee.
"I was expecting a vote," said Windler. "I was
expecting to lose a vote."
Windler said that by moving the amendment on to
committee, the issue holds a lot of promise for businesses to provide
additional business for students.
Council members passed another ordinance that would
approve a lease between the West Lafayette Redevelopment Commission
and the West Lafayette Redevelopment Authority on its first reading
on Tuesday. If passed on its second reading next month, the ordinance
would go into effect.
Robert Bauman, West Lafayette city attorney, said
that the lease agreement was a "$2 million no-brainer" at last week's
pre-council meeting.
If approved, the lease agreement could save West
Lafayette taxpayers roughly $2.5 million over the span of 10 years.
Bauman said the lease agreement is most beneficial now because of the
success of Wabash Landing and current interest rates. Currently, interest
rates are at 8.25 percent. The law firm working with the city and Wabash
Landing officials suggests that interest rates could decline to as low
as 3.6 percent over the life of the proposed bonds.
Because of the proposed refinancing of Wabash Landing,
Bauman thought it would be appropriate to give the council an update
on the project's progress.
Stores such as Kirlin's Hallmark, University Spirit,
a major bookstore chain whose name is yet to be announced, Lafayette
Travel and Cruise and a new restaurant are among the tenants waiting
to begin business in the development's new facility. Bauman suggested
that a large amount of space is still available within the facility
because most businesses are reluctant to enter a space that is not currently
accessible.
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