Zoning Changes

Tomorrow night, the Claremont City Council will be voting on approval of the zoning changes proposed as part of the city's new General Plan. The council will be meeting it its chambers at City Hall at 225 W. 2nd St. at 6:30 p.m.

The city's website offers a link to information on the General Plan, which was approved by the City Council in November, 2006. The city also offers a zoning map showing the proposed changes (patience, it's a large PDF file).

The Claremont Courier's Saturday edition ran an article by Tony Krickl about some residents in two neighborhoods close by the Village West expansion area who are unhappy with their neighborhoods receiving new mixed-use zoning designations. The new zoning for those areas in question will allow for condos and apartments in the future. Unfortunately, the Courier's website doesn't carry the article, so you'll have to pick up a copy if you're interested.

According to the article, some of the residents in the areas affected by the changes were upset with the city and City Planner Lisa Prasse. The article said the residents "felt they were being marginalized by the city after hearing Ms. Prasse describe the zoning changes as a 'housekeeping matter' that would affect only about 6 percent of the city's properties."

Prasse, a holdover from the days of former Claremont City Manager Glenn Southard, may be falling into her old imperious habits. Her modus operandi under Southard was to push projects through, holding public Planning Commission meetings that ran more like slick dog-and-pony shows. Expect more of the same tomorrow night.