Monday, December 3, 2012

Dozens of residents protest a zoning change that would allow for additional parking at the former Barrier's store on the northeast corner of Douglas and Oliver.

The zoning change allows developers to tear down a duplex, northeast of the vacant building, for parking.

At tonight's District Advisory Board meeting, residents in the College Hill and Crown Heights neighborhoods voiced their concerns about a proposed restaurant that would occupy the vacant building.

Residents said they were upset that the restaurant would serve alcohol and close at 2 a.m. In addition, they were concerned of increased traffic from overflow parking onto residential streets, such as Glendale St.

City ordinance requires 59 parking stalls for the proposed commercial development. The current location has 7 parking stalls. Developers plan to have 65 parking stalls in total.

The DAB voted to approve, 8-1, the Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Commission's recommendation to approve the zoning request with additional conditions. The conditions include: a one-way entrance to the parking lot and 'No Parking' signs on either side of Glendale St.

The Wichita City Council will make a final decision on this issue at the Jan. 8 meeting.