Kirkwood plan passes

The Bloomington City Council finalized and approved the plan for West Kirkwood late Wednesday night, voting 6-3 to adopt it as part the city's Growth Policies Plan. The council decided to move forward without many of the proposed amendments, which included the highly debated amendment concerning building-type codes.\nThe majority of the evening was spent by council members directing questions to the City Planning Department and the two associates who developed the plan. Council members were concerned with how the plan would affect not only business owners and the surrounding neighborhoods, but also the city as a whole. \n"We only get to do this once, so we want to do it right," Councilman Jeff Willsey said.\nThe plan for West Kirkwood is an addition to the 2002 update of the Growth Policies Plan released by the city earlier this year. The Growth Policies Plan is a comprehensive plan designed to provide long-term goals for growth and development issues.\nThe plan seeks to add character to the West Kirkwood commercial areas by maintaining the historical look of the neighborhood. It sets forth provisions for the city to maintain design consistency within the neighborhood and codes to specify acceptable building materials.\nOne of the issues that kept the council in session past 1 a.m. last week was an amendment that would have limited new buildings to specific types deemed historically appropriate by the City Planning Department. It was defeated 5-4.\nIn all, the council voted down five amendments and withdrew one. The only significant amendment to the original plan for West Kirkwood is a provision allowing the construction of two-story houses.\nSome residents still came to speak against the plan, saying the guidelines would deter business development and cause unwanted commercial growth in a residential neighborhood.\n"This city needs to stop being unfriendly to business," Bloomington resident Bud Burnett said.\nIn other action, the council gave final approval to a $19,000 grant to IU to sponsor Arts Week, which runs through March 2. Arts Week is a joint effort between the City of Bloomington, IU and the Monroe County Convention and Visitors Bureau to draw cultural tourism to the area.\n"I see this as an economic development," Councilwoman Patricia Cole said. "This money is recirculated through the community."\nThe council will meet again 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in City Hall.