5-F ID 21-204 CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR - Government Code Section 54956.8; Property: 809 E Olive Ave; Negotiating Parties: City Manager Thomas Esqueda, Lawrence Abbate; Under Negotiation: Terms and Conditions of Property Acquisition.
I am shocked and saddened by the way the City of Fresno has handled this issue. This sale of this property is at the end of escrow and now the City is making an effort to interrupt the private sale of private property through the misuse and abuse of its power.
The church has agreed to maintain the use of the facility as it has been, going so far as to agree to recording a covenant to that effect. There will be no change. This is an issue with the church, not the use.
This church and ANY church has a right to gather at this theatre. You are discriminating against a churches right to worship. If they pay rent like any other artist of company that wants to use the theatre, then they have a right to use it. If the owner wants to sell it to them, it’s his right to. If it is not being rezoned to a place of worship, then doesn’t need to be rezoned! It will remain a theatre under new management.
I don’t understand what authority the city has to take over a private sale of the theater. In addition, the council memebers of the district were notably one sided on the town hall meeting hosted by “save the tower” and I do not believe they can be neutral in the matter
There is no attempt by the church to rezone. There does not need to be a rezone to allow the church to function incidentally on Sunday mornings. If anything, maybe a variance or special amendment to that specific property. I called the local Alcohol Beverage Control and they CONFIRMED the church operating in the Theatre Sunday mornings would NOT effect surrounding licenses.
I am in full support of the church purchasing the theatre and operating incidentally on Sunday mornings and occasional events.
I am strongly opposed to any rezoning of the Tower District commercial retail zone. As a homeowner, one of the reasons I decided to invest in a home in the Tower area was because of the zoning. The current zoning made me feel confident that my property will stay valuable because of the amenities that come with a commercial main street. I am deeply concerned that if Adventure church purchases the theater and forces a rezone that the surrounding businesses will be negatively impacted, and it will decrease the value of my home and the desirability to live in the area. Honestly, I would not have purchased my home if I knew that the zoning would change so drastically. If I wanted to live near a sensitive use zone I would have bought a home in the Willow and Nees area.
Any rezoning that limits the operations and conditional use permits of any bars, clubs, restaurants, and other nightlife businesses will be economically damaging to our district. The Tower District depends on these businesses as its economic core and they provide employment for many local district residents.
I support the City purchasing the Tower Theatre if at all possible. A perusal of state law reveals there is no mandatory spacing required for liquor licenses from churches. This means to protect the property interests of other businesses on Olive the City’s rules would have to be modified or repealed in order for the City to avoid inverse condemnation lawsuits if the church is allowed to operate in the heart of the Tower District. I realize any planning entitlements are off in the future but this should be considered by councilmembers as they discuss this topic.
I am shocked and saddened by the way the City of Fresno has handled this issue. This sale of this property is at the end of escrow and now the City is making an effort to interrupt the private sale of private property through the misuse and abuse of its power.
The church has agreed to maintain the use of the facility as it has been, going so far as to agree to recording a covenant to that effect. There will be no change. This is an issue with the church, not the use.
This church and ANY church has a right to gather at this theatre. You are discriminating against a churches right to worship. If they pay rent like any other artist of company that wants to use the theatre, then they have a right to use it. If the owner wants to sell it to them, it’s his right to. If it is not being rezoned to a place of worship, then doesn’t need to be rezoned! It will remain a theatre under new management.
The church does not intend to rezone.
Re: Tower Theatre
I don’t understand what authority the city has to take over a private sale of the theater. In addition, the council memebers of the district were notably one sided on the town hall meeting hosted by “save the tower” and I do not believe they can be neutral in the matter
There is no attempt by the church to rezone. There does not need to be a rezone to allow the church to function incidentally on Sunday mornings. If anything, maybe a variance or special amendment to that specific property. I called the local Alcohol Beverage Control and they CONFIRMED the church operating in the Theatre Sunday mornings would NOT effect surrounding licenses.
I am in full support of the church purchasing the theatre and operating incidentally on Sunday mornings and occasional events.
I am strongly opposed to any rezoning of the Tower District commercial retail zone. As a homeowner, one of the reasons I decided to invest in a home in the Tower area was because of the zoning. The current zoning made me feel confident that my property will stay valuable because of the amenities that come with a commercial main street. I am deeply concerned that if Adventure church purchases the theater and forces a rezone that the surrounding businesses will be negatively impacted, and it will decrease the value of my home and the desirability to live in the area. Honestly, I would not have purchased my home if I knew that the zoning would change so drastically. If I wanted to live near a sensitive use zone I would have bought a home in the Willow and Nees area.
Any rezoning that limits the operations and conditional use permits of any bars, clubs, restaurants, and other nightlife businesses will be economically damaging to our district. The Tower District depends on these businesses as its economic core and they provide employment for many local district residents.
I support the City purchasing the Tower Theatre if at all possible. A perusal of state law reveals there is no mandatory spacing required for liquor licenses from churches. This means to protect the property interests of other businesses on Olive the City’s rules would have to be modified or repealed in order for the City to avoid inverse condemnation lawsuits if the church is allowed to operate in the heart of the Tower District. I realize any planning entitlements are off in the future but this should be considered by councilmembers as they discuss this topic.