Grapetree Plan Goes Before Panel Wednesday Commission Considers Development On 29th Avenue

Thu., Feb. 20, 1997

By Mike Prager mikeprager15@gmail.com (509) 459-5454

A city Plan Commission meeting on the development of 7.7 acres on 29th Avenue east of Pittsburg Street has been rescheduled for Wednesday at 2 p.m.

The Plan Commission last week postponed its meeting on developer Glen Cloninger’s Grapetree Park proposal. The commission did not have enough members available at that meeting to take action on the proposal.

Cloninger wants the Plan Commission to change the city’s comprehensive plan so he can include apartments and neighborhood retail businesses in an office park west of Pittsburg.

The popular Applebee’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill is the first business in the proposed mixed-use development.

Cloninger, an architect, wants to develop a mix of offices, eateries, small neighborhood shops and apartments into what he envisions as a new “urban village.”

He said an office park by itself would not be successful as a business venture. He cited slow growth of other office parks in recent years, including one under development by Dr. John Sonneland at the southwest corner of 29th and Southeast Boulevard.

Residents living near the Grapetree development have opposed the proposal. They said it would increase traffic and add to the existing congestion on 29th Avenue.

The opponents fear the South Hill’s busiest east-west arterial is being overrun by commercial strip zoning.

Public testimony on the request has been closed. The Plan Commission could take a vote on the proposal during its session Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Room 200 at City Hall.

If Cloninger wins the comprehensive plan change, he still would need a zone change before he could build.

, DataTimes

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