CRA moratorium delayed again

A proposed moratorium on new permits for industrial uses within the CRA district was delayed again by the City Council today. Mayor Mike Wiggins successfully moved to again cancel planned public hearings on the issue and schedule a meeting between City staff and concerned property owners within the next 30 days.

Staff originally wished to schedule public hearings to discuss the concept of such a moratorium two weeks ago, but Council delayed that at the behest of Mayor Mike Wiggins, who argued that property owners who could be affected deserved a special meeting to discuss the idea. For whatever reason, that meeting never happened, and today Mayor Wiggins largely echoed his comments from two weeks ago, arguing that business owners still need the courtesy of a special meeting.

Rick’s Blog reported earlier today that the proposed moratorium could be related to the reuse of ECUA’s Main Street Wastewater Treatment Plant:

What I’m hearing is that this has to do with ECUA’s possible uses for the Main Street Treatment plant site once the old plant is demolished. Some believe ECUA might put a large waste transfer station on the property. The rumor is ECUA has been pushing to get the city’s garbage contract and has threatened to put the waste station there if they don’t get the sanitation business.

Staff is seeking the moratorium to help implement the new CRA Plan, which is designed to spur development in the downtown area. The moratorium would not affect the current uses of any businesses or property owners, but rather place a temporary moratorium on new permits for industrial uses within the CRA district, which covers the area south of Cervantes Street between A Street and 17th Avenue.