The Ottawa City Council is discussing what to do about a parking lot ordinance that requires busnesses to have them paved within the city limits. But Ottawa Mayor Robb Hasty says there have been two incidents where it would be too much to ask the businesses to pave their gravel lots. One business on Marquette St. also asked if they could keep the gravel lot the same. Commissioner Marla Pearson says she’d rather leave the ordinance alone because it could open up a can of worms. Commissioner Tom Ganiere says the decision should be made by the business owner in some cases.
The council talked about whether a variance should be allowed or if there should be any exception to the rules at a special meeting last week. Some beleive that some business have already been given an exception and it shouldn’t be allowed anymore. No action was taken on the ordinance during the meeting.