Specifically, the agreement prevented drive-thru businesses, 24-hour services, gas stations and self-serve storage, the latter of which Sadri pursued as an option for the property in 2017.
At first look, the planning commission and city council were not supportive of amending the agreement, and certainly not of throwing it out entirely.
But when the council took another look in August, members said they felt the agreement was disproportionately impacting Sadri. Since his property was rezoned at his request in 2002, the remainder of the area became similarly zoned — but without the land-use restrictions he agreed to at the time.
City staff took another look and came back with an amended proposal at Monday’s meeting.
The amended recommendation — which was approved 5 to 1, with Councilor Ty Stober opposing — allows Sadri to build drive-thru businesses, gas stations and in a specified portion, a self-serve storage facility. The storage facility is restricted to 14900 Mill Plain Blvd., behind the existing minimall and tavern already on-site.
The decision was made against the consensus of public testimony.
Edwin Kawasaki owns a storage facility nearby and expressed his concern with more storage-unit development saturating the market.
Michelle Drake, chair of the East Mill Plain Neighborhood Association, said the group unanimously voted to keep the current agreement in place. Drake said there are several uses for the property allowed in the original agreement, including housing, a small-business center or a sit-down family restaurant.
The larger issue at hand, Stober argued, is that the amended agreement doesn’t address the underlying access problem for the property.
“Unless we’re able to work with the applicant on developing a clear transportation plan for this piece of property, it’s always going to be encumbered,” Stober said.
Morning Briefing Newsletter
Get a rundown of the latest local and regional news every Mon-Fri morning.
