Spring Break
Re-zoning, pedestrian crossing & overnight parking discussed at city council
Daniel Pettis
Issue date: 11/28/07 Section: News
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A re-zoning resolution which will allow fraternities and sororities to exist on the UW-Whitewater campus was passed unanimously at the Whitewater Common Council meeting Nov. 20.
The passing of this resolution will potentially have an impact on the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house. Since the PIKE house is located on university property, on Prairie Street, they had been operating as a duplex. They have not been an officially recognized fraternity since they have been there.
The passing of the resolution is the first step in allowing the PIKEs to operate as an official fraternity and be recognized by the city and the university.
"From a land use, from a zoning standpoint, it legitimizes their use," City Manager Kevin Brunner said.
The passing of the resolution could potentially open the door for other fraternities or sororities to open on campus.
Meanwhile, the Common Council discussed a dangerous intersection at Tratt Street and Starin Road, where many students live in the Fox Meadows apartment building. UW-Whitewater student and Whitewater Common Council member Max Taylor proposed to implement changes to make the intersection safer.
The danger level of the intersection will be reviewed and alternatives will be presented at a later meeting.
"There's obviously a lot of students who live west on Tratt Street and they cross there and we want to make sure that's as safe as possible," Brunner said.
The city council members also discussed overnight parking restrictions on city streets. City Council Member Max Taylor proposed allowing people to call in to the police department for temporary overnight parking. This would be helpful to people whose car wouldn't start.
Police Chief James Coan said there was previously a system in place but it was abused and was difficult for the police department to maintain.
"We had no way of verifying if the car would start or wouldn't start so we just ceased allowing that," Coan said.
Coan said parking tickets, which are usually $10, will be dismissed by the police department with proof that the vehicle wasn't working at the time the ticket was given.
Coan said proof includes repair receipts from mechanics. The situation will be looked into further and will be discussed again at a future meeting.
The passing of this resolution will potentially have an impact on the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house. Since the PIKE house is located on university property, on Prairie Street, they had been operating as a duplex. They have not been an officially recognized fraternity since they have been there.
The passing of the resolution is the first step in allowing the PIKEs to operate as an official fraternity and be recognized by the city and the university.
"From a land use, from a zoning standpoint, it legitimizes their use," City Manager Kevin Brunner said.
The passing of the resolution could potentially open the door for other fraternities or sororities to open on campus.
Meanwhile, the Common Council discussed a dangerous intersection at Tratt Street and Starin Road, where many students live in the Fox Meadows apartment building. UW-Whitewater student and Whitewater Common Council member Max Taylor proposed to implement changes to make the intersection safer.
The danger level of the intersection will be reviewed and alternatives will be presented at a later meeting.
"There's obviously a lot of students who live west on Tratt Street and they cross there and we want to make sure that's as safe as possible," Brunner said.
The city council members also discussed overnight parking restrictions on city streets. City Council Member Max Taylor proposed allowing people to call in to the police department for temporary overnight parking. This would be helpful to people whose car wouldn't start.
Police Chief James Coan said there was previously a system in place but it was abused and was difficult for the police department to maintain.
"We had no way of verifying if the car would start or wouldn't start so we just ceased allowing that," Coan said.
Coan said parking tickets, which are usually $10, will be dismissed by the police department with proof that the vehicle wasn't working at the time the ticket was given.
Coan said proof includes repair receipts from mechanics. The situation will be looked into further and will be discussed again at a future meeting.
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