Council votes in favor of Regency rezoning
The Columbia City Council brought an end to the debate over the rezoning of Regency mobile home park by voting 5-2 in favor of the rezoning Monday night.
Mayor Bob McDavid said he voted in favor of the rezoning because it would offer the most assistance to the residents. Several other council members who also voted in favor echoed similar sentiments.
“They are going to be displaced with or without financial help,” McDavid said.
Aspen Heights is offering $2,300 to displaced tenants of singlewide trailers and $3,500 to doublewide trailer tenants. They are also giving tenants until April 30 to move out or until May 31 if they have children in school. The current owner, Churchill Group Inc., plans to close the park Feb. 29 and has offered no provisions to displaced residents.
Sixth Ward Councilwoman Barbara Hoppe and First Ward Councilwoman Helen Anthony voted against the rezoning. Anthony was concerned about a possible increase in traffic and the condensation of student housing in the area.
“We have too much student housing in that area,” Anthony said. “This is not the appropriate location.”
The vote was preceded by more than three hours of public comments, including several students against the rezoning. Graduate student Andrew Bisto presented the council with 1,200 signatures on behalf of GRO Mizzou, from students, staff and faculty.
“Faculty, students and staff signed this petition because they fundamentally believed this rezoning was wrong,” Bisto said.
A competing petition in favor of the rezoning was created by Aspen Heights earlier this week and offered $500 to the sorority or fraternity that collected the most signatures. Junior Brianna Civella, a sorority member, said Greek students weren’t informed of the circumstances and many wouldn’t have signed the petition if they had known the full story.
Michael Carney, an attorney from Mid-Missouri Legal Services, spoke on behalf of his clients at the Regency in support of the rezoning. He said his clients are still disappointed in the situation but they believe this is the best solution.
“They either get money from Aspen or nothing,” Carney said.