Having lost my bid for the Andover City Council, I'm still interested in participating in the affairs of the City.
The most recent city newsletter identified potential openings on various City Commissions - Planning and Zoning, Park & Recreation, Andover Community Center Advisory and Open Spaces.
Last night, I attended the November meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission. Their main order of business was to discuss the current zoning ordinances for Neighborhood Business, Shopping Center and General Business zoned areas of the city where current liquor zoning may restrict new business opportunities, such as the now-closed Serendipity restaurant location. Current zoning created space around churches and schools in which liquor could not be sold - 400 feet for churches, 1000 feet for schools.
Although Chair Dean Danniger made a good case for 400 and 400 foot spaces, I was pleased the Commission reached consensus on removing the limits altogether and moving to a case-by-case basis while recommending the Council adopt language similar to Ham Lake that discusses reasonability of locating principally on-sale of liquor.
The Serendipity site itself may prove difficult however to reopen as a liquor-serving restaurant without hour limitations and neighborhood protection. A Rose St. resident spoke of how even Serendipity caused problems with overflow cars on their street and noisy truck deliveries. Imagine late-night band music or restaurant hours until 11PM or later. Imagine a Tanners-like restaurant there - not so nice for those neighbors! And, frankly there is hardly any parking at that location - definitely an issue for any purchaser coming in.
The Commission has three seats coming up this January - Chair Dean Danninger, Val Holtus and Michael Casey. I'm impressed at first glance by Danninger, even though I suspect we're opposites politically. Holtus, like me, a former losing candidate for City Council, is sharp and engaged - and engaging - in her way of getting to points. Casey made no impression on me, and along with Dennis Cleveland, had virtually to say throughout the evening. Whether any or all will re-apply, I don't know, but I think this is a well-run commission and one engaged in issues of interest to me.
