In a short meeting of the Clarion City Council held on Tuesday July 6, the council revisited the zoning ordinance governing setbacks again. The question regarding setback distance for corner lots is what is behind this discussion. City Administrator Clint Middleton said that he and Public Works Director Jon DeVries surveyed several areas around town and yard setbacks were extremely variable. In the latest version of the ordinance, the rules call for a standard 15 feet minimum front yard across the board. The first reading of the ordinance that read this way was passed by the council. They discussed adding language to the second reading that adds more information about front yards versus side yards.
A resolution for an offer of real estate was passed. The city plans to purchase 60 feet of land in the White Fox area from Bob Powers for $40,000. This will allow the city to build a road to some landlocked lots in that area.
In reports, DeVries noted that bids for additional water main improvements on South Main have come in very high, to the point the city will probably elect not to do that work now. They had been contemplating it to use leftover grant funds. DeVries added that bids for storm sewer repair with 2nd St SW improvements also came in high. He recommended not accepting the bids and rebidding it later.
