OTTAWA — The Ottawa City Commission voted 3-2 to rezone the northwest corner of Ninth and Main Wednesday night but it wasn’t enough. Because neighbors submitted a formal protest petition against the rezoning, commissioners had to have at least a 4-1 vote to rezone it. Family Video wanted to rezone the corner to allow one of its video stores and other retail space. The company will likely go. Levi Dinkla, who represented the video chain, told commissioners the city is turning away growth and new business at a time when most cities are losing retail businesses. Mayor Blake Jorgensen and commissioners Gene Ramsey and Linda Reed voted for the rezoning. They said that the other three corners have similar commercial uses but were grandfathered before the present zoning rules went into effect. They also said a traffic study shows there wouldn’t be much impact from the new video store. Commissioners Rocky Fleer and Sara Humm voted against. They expressed doubts about the traffic impact and the affect on the residential neighborhoods next to the corner.
