Ordinance to limit expansions

By Heather Mangold
City Editor

Despite the opposing arguments of one West Lafayette business owner, the West Lafayette city council passed an ordinance Monday that would prevent local businesses from expanding without adding additional parking.

Chris Watson, owner of Boiler Room, 306 West State St., submitted a request to the city earlier this year in an effort to create additional space on the roof of his facility. His request was postponed after the council and the Tippecanoe County area plan commission proposed that for any business to add additional space, more parking would be required.

Watson said he felt as though his business was being targeted specifically by the actions of the council and the commission.

"The ordinance didn't even exist until I went and said I wanted to put a deck on," said Watson.

Council and commission member Jan Mills said that the ordinance was not, however, designed to target Boiler Room.

Watson said that he submitted the plans for his expansion to the city on Friday and he is now waiting to see if his plans will still be accepted, despite the passage of the ordinance. He said according to the laws previous to Monday night's vote, he was not asking for an exception — what he was requesting was legal. However, after the passage of ordinance number 35-01, he said he's not so sure what the final results will be.

In other matters, citizens from throughout West Lafayette came to the meeting to voice their support for the reduction of the speed limit on 29 city streets. The commission concluded that it would be in the city's best interest to reduce the speed limit to 25 mph on those streets and recommended it to the council.

Council members said residents should expect increased police patrols and more speed limit signs.

Ordinance to limit expansions

Officials petition to keep monument

CITY DESK PHONE:
(765) 743-1111 ext. 250

City editor:
Heather Mangold

To send a letter to the editor, please email city@purdueexponent.org