Quincy Alderman Jake Reed (R-6th Ward) spoke about the city’s future growth after the Quincy City Council rejected a Zoning Board of Appeals recommendation.
I have some new ideas because of this meeting. During the new business section of Monday’s Quincy City Council meeting, Alderman Jake Reed (R-6th Ward) mentioned things like Quincy’s prospective annexation [and] the future construction of the Quincy empire.
The look of a new shed that would intrude on the 30-foot front yard setback at 1428 Briar Rose was the subject of a neighbor’s complaint. Denial was the Zoning Board’s recommendation. The council did, however, decide to move the idea forward for a final vote.
During public remark, the property’s owner, Macy Waterkotte, spoke. She responded to her neighbor’s concern that the shed would not look nice.
Waterkotte stated that alternate placements would not be feasible and that his opinion regrettably does not alter the current easement, the slope of our yard, or the placement of our lateral lines. Only three of her thirty neighbors opposed her petition.
Alderman Greg Fletcher (R-1st Ward) asked that the Briar Rose item be taken off the consent agenda and sent to the regular council meeting instead of the Zoning Board of Appeals report. Fletcher emphasized during the conversation that although the house is located within the 1.5-mile buffer zone where zoning regulations are still in effect, it is outside of Quincy’s municipal borders.
Fletcher stated, “I don’t understand how this board can tell someone who can’t vote for them what they can and can’t do.”
Alderman Eric Entrup (R-1st Ward) remarked that a zoning exception was required in this particular circumstance due to the location of the laterals and the septic.
Twelve votes were in favor of the shed’s construction, one was against, and two were not present. Laura McReynolds (R-5th Ward) and Kelly Mays (R-3rd Ward) were not present. Mayor Moore voted in favor, while Alderman Jeff Bergman (R-2nd Ward) voted against.
In support of the shed, an ordinance will now be drafted and added to the agenda for next week. Three readings of the ordinance will be necessary.
But Entrup brought up the mile-and-a-half buffer zone once more during new business.
“When we have to make decisions on things that don’t affect people or when they don’t vote for us, I get frustrated,” Entrup added. Apart from that rule, we have no actual jurisdiction over them.
According to Corporation Counsel Bruce Alford and Quincy City Planning Director Jason Parrott, most cities without adjacent jurisdictions follow this standard procedure.
We may reach the 50,000 population level if we were to acquire portions of that mile and a half, but doing so would require us to disperse our police and fire forces much more widely, Moore stated.
Having 50,000 residents is beneficial because the city would be classified as a metropolitan statistical region, which facilitates funding acquisition.
I have annexation on my agenda. Following the discussion, Moore stated, “I want to be strategic about any annexation, and we need to look at both sides of the coin: what is right for the residents and what is right for the city.”
To be annexed, county residents would not have to consent. Moore clarified.
She answered, “We could just do it.”
I recall that the county board presented a comprehensive plan a few years ago, but it was unsuccessful because the county opposed it and wanted no part of city regulations. “D-6th Ward Alderman Richie Reis said.”
This board rejected the Ellington solar farm not too many months ago. Alderman Ben Uzelac (D-7th Ward) stated that it is within the mile and a half, which is outside the city limits. This board must decide whether or not we wish to give instructions to the nation’s citizens. And we must always stick to the way we vote.
After the meeting, Uzelac stated, “My problem is when we say we support what people do out in the county and we should stay out of their business at the same time that we denied something out in the county months earlier.”
Transit Director Marty Stegeman opened the meeting with a presentation. According to a 2022 rider poll, the department wants to solve the top issues. The amenities—new buses (check), renovated bus shelters (under construction), and a climate-controlled transfer station (probably too costly to finish now)—are the top priority. In an effort to reduce transfer wait times and reach underserved communities, they are also investigating the potential of establishing additional routes.
The regular resolutions and ordinances below, as well as the remainder of the consent agenda, were unanimously approved in other business.
Agenda for Consent:
- Special Event Application for the August 8 to August 10 10 Knights of Columbus BBQ
- Permission request to conduct a raffle and waive the bond requirement for the Quincy Children s Museum and Friends of the Log Cabin
Frequent Gathering:
- Approval recommendation from the Zoning Board of Appeals for the installation of a projecting sign at 501 Hampshire Street
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Recommended approval of the low bid of $2,375,880.15 from Rees construction Co. for the Cherry St. North 24
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to North 28
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Street Project - Recommended approval to repair a garage vehicle lift by R.L. Hoener Co for $29,326.45
- Recommended approval of quote $7,800 for Peters Heating and Air Conditioning for the leased hangar and offices of Quincy Aviation
- Special permit adopted for Planned Development to allow for the use of 906 Lind Street as a counseling center with supervised visitation
- Second Presentation to amend zoning regulations to designate a landmark at 1515 Jersey
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First Presentation to amend the municipal code to remove 2-hour parking on the north side of Maine Street from N. 28
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St to N. 30
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St - First Presentation granting a variation from zoning regulations to allow the installation of a projecting sign that is higher than 15 feet above the street grade at 501 Hampshire.
This report was contributed to by Lucy Nemerov.
