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251 <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards noted that she was not present at the Planning Commission public <br />hearing, and asked if a definition existed for a pharmacy. Ms. Richards also asked if the <br />Planning Commission had discussed Council's request to make a recommendation <br />regarding the percentage of pharmaceutical retail to other retail allowed. <br /> <br /> Mr. Higgins said that pharmacy definition used is one defined by other localities, <br />and said that the majority of the Planning Commission was comfortable with the amount <br />of pharmaceutical retail being more than 50% of the retail. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards asked if the transitional zone discussion which is now occurring for <br />B-1 zones in Fifeville is comprehensive enough to be applied to other areas, and Mr. <br />Higgins said that the transition process is localized to the Fifeville area. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Ms. Daugherty, Mr. Higgins said that the City has <br />more design control with a special permit process than with a by-right process. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said that he objects to the process used to negotiate an agreement on this <br />request outside of the Comprehensive Plan review and thinks doing so is spot zoning and <br />provides a benefit mainly to the applicant. Mr. Cox said he intends to vote against the <br />proposed ordinance and he feels it establishes a very poor precedent. Mr. Cox said he <br />hopes Council will reconsider the request in the context of the Comprehensive Plan <br />review process a year from now. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards said she agrees that the process was triggered by an individual <br />application, but she does think there is public benefit in having a pharmacy within 100 <br />feet ora hospital. Ms. Richards said she is concerned that the size restrictions for <br />pharmacies in B- 1 zones make it difficult for them to be viable businesses, but she is not <br />convinced the proposal before Council is the best idea. <br /> <br /> Ms. Daugherty said that the special permit process proposed gives Council more <br />design control than would be allowed by right and she will support the proposed text <br />amendment. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said that having the special permit process is a comforting thought <br />and he is impressed by the neighborhood support of the compromise. Mr. Caravati said <br />that he does not think that the text amendment is spot zoning, but he would prefer to talk <br />about the issue in a more comprehensive way and to do a more comprehensive review of <br />B-I zones. <br /> <br />No action was taken on the proposed text amendment. <br /> <br />ORDINANCE: RENEWING U. S. SPRINT FRANCHISE <br /> <br /> Mr. Clyde Gouldman, City Attorney, explained that the franchise agreement only <br />applies to the portion of Sprint's assets in the railroad right-of-way that crosses City <br />streets in four locations. Mx. Gouldman noted that the franchise a~eement does not <br />impose a franchise fee because state law has eliminated the City's ability to charge that <br />fee for telecommunication. Mr. Gouldman recommended that if Council wants to <br />explore adopting a Use Fee, which is allowed by State taw, that it do so separately. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati noted that Adelphia Cable Corporation is exploring using their lines <br />for telecommunications and asked about the impact this would have on the City's ability <br />to charge a fee. Mr. Gouldman replied that he is unsure what telecommunications <br />legislation portends for the future. <br /> <br /> On motion by Ms. Richards, seconded by Mr. Caravati, the ordinance entitled <br />"AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A TELECO~CATIONS FRANCHISE TO US <br />SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY, ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS TO <br />USE THE STRF, ETS AND OTHER PUBLIC PLACES OF THE CITY OF <br />CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA FOR ITS POLES, WIRES, CONDUITS, CABLES <br />AND FIXTURES, FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE (5) YEARS)" was offered and carried over <br />to the next meeting for consideration. <br /> <br /> <br />