By BILL SHEA
Messenger staff writer
A proposal from two Fort Dodge brothers seeking to erect a storage building on Seventh Avenue South was rejected by City Council members on Monday when they denied a needed zoning change.
Don and Steve Heddinger wanted to place the building in the 3000 block of Seventh Avenue South, next to a building they've had for 10 years.
The property is currently zoned for residential use; a switch to arterial commercial zoning is needed.
The city's planning staff recommended that the change be denied because there are homes nearby and the area is designated for residential use.
However, the city's Plan and Zoning Commission voted 4-1 last month to recommend that the change be approved.
Council members voted 4-3 to deny the change.
Councilmen Dean Hill, Robert ''Barney'' Patterson, Mark Taylor and Don Wilson voted no.
Councilmen Kim Alstott, Dave Flattery and Andy Fritz voted yes.
''That's my ward,'' Wilson said. ''I have to protect the residential people. It's hard for me to justify moving more commercial into a residential area.''
Don Heddinger said a new home will probably never be built on the property.
Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net