Updated: 11:15 a.m. Thursday
A committee vote on a Riverside restaurant was delayed Wednesday night after a hearing that took more than seven hours and included intense public comment.
The city’s Land Use and Zoning committee was expected to vote whether to approve a proposed Oak Street eatery and bar called The Roost. But Riverside residents are in disagreement over whether a vacant laundromat should be rezoned to become the 150-seat restaurant.
About 60 signed up to speak at Wednesday's meeting. One of them, Jason Wood, supports the restaurant. He says he’s new development helps make the neighborhood safer, and he wants that to continue on Oak.
“I think that Riverside was originally designed as multi-use zoning. People owned businesses and lived above them, and I think that, as a historic aspect, that it should be continued, that it was made that way,” he said.
But those against it say that area can’t support the added traffic and parking.
Around 11 p.m. Wenesday, the committee decided to reconvene next week for discussion and a vote. It will serve as a recommendation to the full City Council.
The city’s Planning Commission already voted in favor of the restaurant.
