10 years ago 1997
The Arlington School Board isnt buckling under pressure to make a decision on buying an elementary school site in Gleneagle. The school district was given first right of refusal on a 10-acre parcel near SR 9, north of Edgefield Drive, when the city approved a contract rezone with Gleneagles George Brown in 1991. The agreement, however, stipulates a decision must be made by the time Sector IIIB receives final plat approval from the Arlington City Council the last step before property can be sold and homes built. If no decision is made, the developer can sell the property to someone else. That sector, which includes 102 lots on 21.2 acres, was approved by the planning commission last week. The next step is City Council. But the looming deadline has not ruffled the feathers of school board members, who have discussed the agreement in executive session for the last year. Superintendent Linda Byrnes on Monday said even if the final plat is approved by the City Council, the district doesnt necessarily lose the chance to buy the property. It does mean they could sell it to someone else, but they would still be willing to negotiate with us, she said. The property is currently zoned for a school site and if it were to be used for something other than that, it would require a rezone, which takes time, she said. She noted discussion in the last three months have moved toward a possible collaboration between the city and the school district on development of the school site and adjacent property that has been set aside for a city parks. We might want to collaborate and make it better for everyone, she said. This has muddied the waters a bit. City Planner John Burkholder told the city planning commission last week he expects an agreement between the city, the school district and the developer to be finalized in the next week. He encouraged the commission to recommend final plat approval to the City Council, but stipulate the plat not go before the Council for approval until the negotiations on the school property are finished. Several commissioners questioned the authority of the city to hold up a development because of a school district decision, however. The onus is not on the developer, but on the school district, said Planning Commissioner Fred Foster. The deadline is with this plat. John Nelson of Triad Associates, the builder of this Gleneagle sector, agreed. If the school district doesnt decide by the time Sector IIIB is up, then they lose their chance. Its not reasonable that the developer be held accountable because the school district didnt make a decision, he said. Tying their park property to school negotiations keeps the developer from completing the contract which calls for the park area to be completed in a timely fashion, Nelson said. The park could be built now, but depending on what the school board decides, the location may change. It doesnt make sense to build the park now and then have to move it later. Burkholder said the city and the developer want to do what is right. Were all vested in getting the deal with the school district done, he told the planning commission. However, he added, if the school district doesnt deal, then the park will still be built. If push comes to shove, we will go ahead and build the park. The planning commission approved the plat with the recommendations of staff including not taking it to Council until negotiations are complete. Everyone is now waiting on those negotiations. No decisions were announced at the school board meeting Monday night, but the city and school board have scheduled a joint workshop next Monday to discuss parks, among other things.

25 years ago 1982
A good crowd is expected at the next Arlington City Council meeting on Oct. 18, when the issue of what is and isnt allowed on the citys sidewalks comes up for consideration. At the last meeting, Councilman Bob Kraski suggested that an ordinance be prepared limiting commercial displays on sidewalks to the first 30 inches. Later that motion was amended to remove all commercial displays. City Attorney Penn Mathews is preparing the ordinance. Kraski later said that it is unlikely that such a totally restrictive law would be passed, but that some regulations would be imposed. In bringing up the issue, Kraski cited one Olympic Avenue merchant who continues to use more and more of the sidewalk for commercial displays. He noted that at times pedestrians have to walk in the street to pass the store. Bill Stipek, owner of Bills Superette, readily admitted the Council just might be concerned with the produce displays in the sidewalk in front of his store. Im just trying to do business, he said. My produce sales have gone up several hundred percent by my being able to display them out front. This city has no desire to help businesses, only restrict them. Ive had nothing but favorable comments except from city hall. A couple of people have even referred to it as the Pike Place Market of Arlington, said Stipek. The problem could be solved by moving city hall so they cant see me. Stipek said he has had a running battle with local government over the sidewalk issue and he alleges that the city monopolizes valuable parking spaces on the main street. Private parking for their customers, he called it. I think such a sidewalk ordinance is prejudiced and prudish, he said. If it suits them, they dont enforce the laws. If it doesnt, they pass more laws to curtail business. Other Olympic Avenue merchants agreed with him to the extent that they opposed totally banning displays on the sidewalks. Lyle Widmark, owner or Arlington Feed and Farm Supply, said, It would hurt us, ruin us. A large part of our lawnmower sales are a result of the sidewalk display. But I knew this was coming. Widmark also said he believed there already was an ordinance restricting displays to three feet from the buildings front wall, but research of city hall archives revealed no such law on the books. The issue, said Attorney Penn Mathews, has come up at least four times in the last 24 years with no conclusion. Eileen Soper, owner of Mode O Day Dress Shop, said a total ban would hurt her business, but a 30-inch limit would do. She also suggested the law allow exceptions for sidewalk sales sponsored by most of the merchants.

50 years ago 1957
Meeting in special session Monday night, for the purpose of considering the city budget for the coming year, and to hear the financial report of William Harper & Son & Co. on the financing of the proposed city sewer system and disposal plant, the city fathers prepared the way to enact ordinances at the regular Council meeting next week after some additional information is obtained on the sewer project. Attending the meeting and explaining in detail the financing were Messrs. Paul Flint Jr., and Sherman Ellsworth of William Harper & Son & Co., also Mr. Francis Osborne, of the firm of Gray & Osborne, engineers who gave information on engineering details. The project cost, as given in the financial report, would run to a total of $400,000, which would break down as follows: sanitary sewers, $216,400; treatment plant, $67,900; storm sewers, $61,700; engineering, $31,000; land and miscellaneous, $7,000; and legal and financing, $16,000. The figures are based on the proposal to put the sewer lines in the streets rather than in the alleys, the engineers feeling that the 10-ft. alleys are too narrow to accommodate the digging equipment. The figures thus do not include the cost to bring the connecting lines to the individual property lines.