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Providence exempts parking spaces for disabled and elderly from town restrictions By
Heidi Thueson PROVIDENCE -- The City Council had a chock-full agenda Tuesday, including public hearings on parking spaces for the disabled and amendments to the annexation policy, as well as a proposal for a city center area. The council voted unanimously to exempt facilities for the disabled and aged from the current code that requires two parking stalls per unit. This was done on the recommendation of Ron Christensen, representing the Planning and Zoning Commission. Effective immediately, facilities for the disabled and aged only need one and a half parking stalls per unit. Christensen said that many residents of such facilities do not have their own cars, so it is not necessary to supply as many parking stalls. Councilman Vic Saunders supported the decision. With an aging America, he said, "It's important we have a flexible ordinance." The council went on to unanimously amend the ordinance for annexation. Previously the ordinance stated that landowners affected by annexation "may" be notified of the changes. Now they "must"be notified. Saunders said the change was made to conform to state ordinances. Joe Beck, architect for Creekside Townhomes, presented to the council a rough plan to build a city center area downtown. The center would consist of a grassy tree-lined area and a pond near the library. The purpose of the center is to create green spaces and pedestrian-friendly areas to help keep the downtown area alive and booming with business. Beck spent several weeks studying the style of architecture of Providence before drawing up the plans for the center. He compares the colonial feel of the city to Georgetown, a neighborhood in Washington, D.C. The proposal generated a lot of initial enthusiasm from the council. "The general concept gives us something unique that Providence can build which no other community in the valley has right now," said Saunders. "I'm really excited about it," Councilor Deon Johnson said. The council will discuss the proposal in detail in upcoming meetings. A unanimous vote was taken to approve installing access to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation website in the Providence courtroom. Court officials would be free to check the previous criminal record of a defendant on a computer during a hearing. Steps will be taken to ensure the computer is properly secure when the building is vacant. "This is a real leap forward for our justice system," said Mayor Alma Leonhardt.
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