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The City Plan Commission voted Tuesday night not to recommend to the City Coun cil a request to amend the zoning ordinance to allow smaller residential units in commercial buildings in the central business district. The commission also reject ed a request to rezone prop erty to allow a restaurant in a residential area. THE FIRST request, denied by a 5-3 vote, would have changed the 1,500 square feet required for multiple family dwelling units to 750 square feet. Ben Sieg, a commission member, said he didn’t be lieve in making downtown Galesburg into an apartment complex would be an improve ment. ‘‘Downtown should re main downtown,” he added. Sieg also said that down town merchants, who have been embroiled in controversy over the proposed Sandburg Mall on North Henderson Street, should reconsider the use of the upper floors of their buildings. ABOUT 20 residents in the proposed restaurant area last night debated among each other and with the commis sion. The majority won. Most residents of the area, from West First Street to north of West Third Street, said they did not want a res taurant in the neighbor hood. And they said they did not want their area to be re zoned from residential to light industrial. Malissie Wimbley, owner of property at 711 Avenue A, last November petitioned to have her property rezoned to allow her to operate the restaurant. The commission, on advice from Mayor Robert Cabeen, who is also commission chair man, proposed the entire two block area be rezoned to avoid “spot zoning.” Ald. W. C. Jackson, Fourth Ward, said, “Speaking as a resident and not an alderman, I think we have a pretty good residential area there. If the Plan Commission wants to do a job, they should do the job they were asked to do and nothing else.” LARRY HENDRICKS, Galesburg NAACP branch president, said, “In areas where we live, you always see factories. I wonder why we see no factories in Northland.” Another resident of the gen eral vicinity, Louise Wilder, Human Relations Commission director, was of a different mind. “I think we should give Mrs. Wimbley her restaurant,”’ she said. Mayor Cabeen said the com mission had been trying to ac commodate Mrs. Wimbley, thus making proposal to re zone all the land because they would not spot zone. But, he explained, the opinions of the area residents were desired and that was why the public hearing was called. Both matters rejected by the commission will come up be fore the City Council for final action.
Newspaper Details
Galesburg Register Mail
Galesburg, Illinois, US
Wed, Feb 28, 1973
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Kim T.
USA 13 Feb 2026
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