Whittier : Uptown Builders Stalled

The City Council has moved to stall new construction in the Uptown Whittier business district by requiring developers to obtain a conditional use permit before building. The conditional use permit ordinance, which the council imposed for 45 days, will give the city a way to block development that is not consistent with redesign plans for the business district.

Developers who have not been issued a building permit will now have to submit their plans to the Design Review Board, the Planning Commission and the City Council before starting construction. This will create a delay of at least four to six weeks.

The council also waived the $1,000 conditional use permit fee for new Uptown construction. The ordinance can be extended after public hearings for an additional 10 months.