The Albany County School District urged the reconsideration of a motion that would change the residential area adjacent to the high school to a business lot at Tuesday’s city council meeting.
Kelly Heck, an attorney representing the Albany County School District, said that the school district was concerned not having received any notice of action on the rezoning, which would put a car lot in the rezoned space.
“It has some vast and great impacts not only to the high school, which would be across the street from the proposed car lot, but also for the future vital elementary project that is in the works,” Heck said.
She said that the school district drafted several letters voicing concerns, and the site was selected for the high school to be an office and residential type area. She also said the decision should be postponed until the next regular meeting.
The postponement motion did not carry with a six to three vote.
Joe Shumway, Ward 2 representative who voted against the motion, said there is a proposal to purchase the lot for a car dealership. He also said there are still many hoops that have to be jumped through before the lot will be turned into a car dealership. Shumway voted so that there could be plans for the lot in the future.
“Anytime there’s anything being developed, there always seems to be someone saying, not in my backyard, do it somewhere else,” Shumway said. “We’re just waiting to see if the process goes through and see where that takes us. I’m not opposed to a car dealership.”
Klaus Hanson, Ward 3 representative, said he voted against the postponement because he wanted to support business in town.
“There are public streets that students will walk on and on the other side there might be a car dealership. I don’t see the adverse effects they are concerned with,” Hanson said. “New cars are a temptation to students, but they are where ever they are located.”
Hanson said he would not change his vote in the future unless new information is presented.
“If I don’t hear any clear statements on what these effects are, I won’t reconsider my vote,” Hanson said.
