Council votes on commercial definition changes

By: 
Gray Hughes

On Monday night, the Hill City Common Council approved the first reading of commercial zone definition changes.

The changes were first approved by the Hill City Planning and Zoning Commission, who had been discussing the changes since September 2018.

“Zoning is about protecting the value and enjoyment of properties by separating incompatible land uses and minimizing their potentially negative impacts upon each other,” said Dani Schade, development service coordinator for Hill City. “With this in mind, the committee (who proposed the changes to planning and zoning) concluded it might be more prudent to look at the impact a new business could have on their neighbors based on three factors: density, intensity and environmental impact.”

In short, what this change would do is change the definitions for commercial zones one through four, commercial residential zones and the central business district to state what is and is not permitted in the zone. The commercial zones are rated from smallest to largest, with a C1 zone being the smallest building and C4 being the largest.

Alderman Dale Householder said the approach the planning and zoning commission has taken is an innovative way to look at zoning. Householder said after spending six years on the planning and zoning commission this has to be among some of the most innovative work it has done.

“This is a really innovative way to look at impact,” Householder said. “And that’s what zoning is all about.”

Alderman Jason Gillaspie wanted to know if any businesses had an input in the conversation.

Schade said that over the three years this has been debated, participation has been “hit or miss.”

When asked by Gillaspie if any businesses would be impacted by the changes to the definitions, Schade said just one, most likely: Dallas Alexander’s business, which, she said, should be zoned as industrial.

Because the proposed definition changes would limit noise being made within the Central Business District, alderman Carl Doaty wanted to know if that would impact music at businesses such as the Bumpin’ Buffalo and Mangy Moose.

Because these businesses already require permits to have outdoor music, Schade said this would supersede these changes, meaning that so long as these businesses continue to obtain sound permits they can have outdoor music.

Ultimately, after no further discussion, Householder moved to approve the first reading and was seconded by Doaty. The vote passed 4-0.

In other news, Angie Ross, who owns First Impression Salon and Gypsy Soul Boutique and is a member of the Hill City Board of Education, was voted onto the Hill City Planning and Zoning Commission to replace outgoing commissioner Keith VanNess. Ross was approved 3-0-1 with Householder abstaining.

The city’s finances for 2020 finished better than anticipated in the spring, according to the report prepared by finance officer Stacia Tallon.

 According to the report total revenue collected year to date, which includes property tax collection and sales tax collection, was up 4.20 percent at $1.734 million. Property tax collection was at $555,879.52, which was up 4.75 percent year to date. Sales tax was at $988,237.51, which was up 6.30 percent year to date. According to information supplied by the Hill City Area Chamber of Commerce, after a slow start to the summer tourist season, the months of August through December were all in the positive ranges for sales tax collection with especially strong months in September, October and November where sales tax was up 15.5 percent, 29.58 percent and 31.81 percent, respectively.

The gross receipts fund — also known as the BBB (bed, board and booze) fund was up 1.13 percent to date. The city collected $190,857.71 for that fund.

 The business improvement district tax (also known as the BID tax) was the only pot of money down. The BID tax is a tax on hotel rooms, and, because of the late start to the season caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the fund was down 5.41 percent. However, Tallon was encouraged and said the fund could have been much worse due to the late start in the season.

The water fund was up 8.06 percent, bringing in $299,759.58. The sewer fund was also up, notching a 1.33 percent increase year to date.

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