Game Room denied consent for expansion
By Barbara Arntsen
Published in News on August 17, 2004 2:03 PM
The City Council decided Monday against allowing a game room on Slocumb Street to expand. A council member cited concerns for children's safety.
Last month Hilda Hill asked the council for a special use permit that would allow her to add two more pool tables and two more video games to Greg's Game Room on Slocumb Street.
At a hearing on July 19, Mrs. Hill and her son Greg spoke in favor of the request, but three other citizens opposed the expansion.
Hill told the council that children, ages 4 to 16, came to the game room, which was open from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
One woman told the council that there was no reason for a 4-year-old to be out playing pool at night.
Councilman Charles Williams said that he had toured the game room, along with a contingency of concerned citizens, and had spoken with residents in nearby apartment complexes.
Williams said that he believed there were legitimate concerns for the safety of the children crossing a busy street, and that he thought the atmosphere of the business could be damaging to young children.
The council voted unanimously to deny the request.
In other matters Monday, the council did the following:
*Held a public hearing on a request from Piggly Wiggly to rezone the west side of North Herman Street between Walnut and Mulberry streets from residential to neighborhood business. The grocery store wants to add another entrance to the back of the property. No one spoke in opposition.
*Held a public hearing on a request from Robert Gene Boyette to rezone the south side of East Ash Street between Meadow Road and U.S. Highway 70 East from residential to general business. No one spoke, either for or against, at the hearing.
*Condemned houses at 108 Brogden St. and 319 James St.