In its first meeting of fiscal year 2015 last night, the Columbia City Council approved the rezoning of a property on Tiger Avenue that will allow the lot to be used for surface parking by the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. The five to one decision requires the statement of intent for the property be amended to remove parking garages from its proposed uses.
Thomas Snider, President of the Chi Mu Alumni Association, said the rezoning was a crucial component of a property swap between the Greek letter organizations that will enable the redevelopment of a property on Rollins Street by the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.
Snider said he did not believe the required changes to the statement of intent would be an issue.
1st Ward Council Member Giny Chadwick, citing concerns over increased traffic on Tiger Avenue and Rollins Street, was the lone no-vote.
In a separate five to one vote, the council also expressed it would consider wind power from the Grain Belt Express Transmission Line as an option to meet the city’s Renewable Energy Standard.
According to a presentation made by Clean Line Energy Partners to the city’s Water and Light Board in September, the proposed 750-mile transmission line would deliver 500 Megawatts of wind energy from western Kansas to MISO system in Missouri.
6th Ward Council Member Laura Nauser opposed the resolution.
