from The Wilson Post::Oct. 22, 2008
Council nods two Bible Park ordinances
By CONNIE ESH

After considerable discussion, Lebanon City Council passed two ordinances on first reading to assist the Bible Park USA in their attempts to arrange funding for the proposed development during Tuesday night’s regular meeting.

The developer, represented by Robert Wyatt, presented information about the park and the economic plan to the council during a work session before the meeting.

The first ordinance accepts BPUSA’s Economic Impact study and authorizes the Industrial Development Board to take such action as is allowed under state law to implement the BPUSA economic plan, and to issue up to $60 million worth of non-recourse bonds, based in tax increment funding and a user fee to be charged inside the park.

Ward 3 Councilor William Farmer requested the limit and originally wanted to limit the bonds to $50 million, while the developer wanted no limit on the total amount of bonds that could be issued.

The second ordinance supports the county in its application for a Tourism Development Zone for the park. This would allow BPUSA to charge a 5 percent user’s fee which would also support the sale of bonds to build the park.

Ward 1 Councilor Alex Buhler said he didn’t fully understand the plans and was unsure whether the park would be a good idea for the city. He voted no on both ordinances.

The council also passed on second reading an ordinance creating a Specific Plan, or SP zone for the city. This type of zone would allow small areas to be planned for various uses, without having to rezone these small parcels in ways that would leave them open to undesirable uses if they were ever sold. For example, a lot could be zoned SP to allow a veterinary office without opening it up to the possibility of some one later buying the land and using it for industrial which was the only zone which allow a veterinary office.

They also deleted the MU- Mixed Use zone since the new SP zone will eliminate the need for it.

The council also deferred a decision concerning whether Joseph Storehouse will need to either build a sidewalk or pay an in-lieu-of-sidewalk fee of about $20,000. The decision was deferred because the council is considering making some changes in the sidewalk ordinance which may affect that situation.

The council also agreed to allow two vacant positions, one in the street department and one in the water department, to be advertised in-house. Council told Public Works Commissioner Jeff Baines he would have to come back for permission to advertise them publically if he could find people already employed by the city who wanted to change jobs.

Council also agreed to raise the gas and water connection fees by $10 to help cover the cost of a system required by federal law to protect customers from potential identity theft.