Thursday's meeting of the Murfreesboro City Council included a request by Peter Demos to rezone property on North Maney, and a request by Police Chief Glen Chrisman to lease additional office space for the department.
Attorney Bricke Murfree, of Murfree & Murfree Law Firm, spoke on behalf of his client Peter Demos of Demos' Restaurant during a public hearing regarding rezoning of the North Maney property from residential to planned commercial development.
Murfree said the property will be used as administrative office space for the Demos' Restaurant business, while leaving the 1890s home intact and "restoring it to its original splendor and glory."
The home is located near the historic downtown district and public meetings were held with many neighbors in attendance, according to City Planning Director Joseph Aydelott.
"During all my years in the planning department, I have never seen the kind of support from neighbors that this plan had during the public meetings we conducted," he said.
Dr. E.C. Tolbert of Blackman owns property on North Maney across the street from the proposed rezoning, and he voiced support for the request during the public hearing.
"Have you ever seen anything in this community that the Demos' have done that wasn't good?" he asked rhetorically.
The motion to approve the rezoning on first reading passed unanimously, with council members Doug Young and Shane McFarland abstaining.
Young explained that he owns property in the vicinity and did not want to create any perception of a conflict of interest.
Discussion then moved to a request by Chrisman to lease the former South Rutherford location of Bob Parks Realty for much needed office space for the department's Criminal Investigations Division.
"We are currently stacked like cordwood in there." he said.
Chrisman explained only administrative offices would be located at the new space, and all sex offender registrations, interviews of suspects and storage of evidence will remain at the South Church Street headquarters.
He said moving the administrative aspects of the division could free up enough space for "one or possibly two additional interview rooms at the current location."
The cost of leasing the space will be $6,600 per month for three years, for a total cost of $240,000.
Councilman Toby Gilley pointed out the cost per foot equaled $9, and asked if any other options were considered.
Chrisman responded that all other options required considerable additional modification costs.
Mayor Tommy Bragg questioned Chrisman as to what further modification costs would be needed for the requested lease, and City Manager Rob Lyons responded furniture would need to be purchased and a fiberoptic line would need to be installed for purposes of communication.
Chrisman added these costs would be paid by federal grants within the department, and no further requests of city tax revenue would be needed for this project.
Young then motioned for approval and the measure passed unanimously. |
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