One of the biggest surprises – and announcements – from Mayor Tom Henry’s State of the City address had little to do with city government at all.A Fort Wayne developer will likely have to go back to the drawing board before receiving approval for his southeast-side venture.
Christopher H. Payne III wants to put in a more than $2 million retail plaza at the northwest corner of East Pontiac Street and South Anthony Boulevard, but Fort Wayne Plan Commission members and staff said Monday he was short on many details.
City Councilman Glynn Hines, D-6th, who represents residents in the neighborhood, said he wouldn’t support Payne’s project as it was presented.
Hines said he spoke at the commission’s public hearing Monday at the request of neighbors. The City Council has the final approval on projects presented to the plan commission.
Concerns arose about the color and type of building, signage, retention basins, traffic flow and how the retail hub would fit into the area. Payne’s plaza would cover about 20,000 square feet.
He needs the commission to recommend rezoning the property from residential to limited retail and commercial.
The plaza would not be able to house a gun shop, tobacco store, check-cashing or liquor outlet, adult book/movie store, massage parlor or pawn shop.
After the session, Hines said though he was encouraged by the proposed plaza, which has been in the works for the past few years, there were “too many red flags” on Monday.
“We just want to make sure that all of the i’s are dotted and the t’s crossed,” Hines said. “It’s a good project, but we have to make sure it’s done right.”
Kerry Schoeph, an engineer with MSKTD & Associates of Fort Wayne, spoke on behalf of Payne at the hearing.
Schoeph said he’ll submit additional paperwork to the commission filling in the blanks of the retail plaza before the panel makes a decision at its business meeting Monday.
“It won’t be a problem,” he said. “Actually, this (development) will be nicer than the Mr. Payne’s other plaza on Hanna and Lewis streets.”
That outlet consists of a light-colored brick and stucco building. It has a Cap n’ Cork and convenience and cell phone stores. The new plaza aims to offer a mini-grocery, clothing store, fast-food restaurant and gasoline station. One of the key reasons behind Payne’s project, he said, is to help fill a void left by Phil’s Market, which closed in 2003.
At least 10 businesses are to occupy the plaza, Payne said. He has said he wants his development to complement Renaissance Pointe, which features the construction of 350 single-family homes and townhomes.
