Fidelity brokerage services will be allowed to use the ground floor of former Barnes and Noble Store Downtown for their new place, but the Neproville City Council wants to stop security measures to prevent other banks and financial institutions from doing so in the future also in the future. Is.
In 7-2 votes on Tuesday, the council approved a code variance, under which Fidelity 47 AD. Can proceed with its investment center at Chicago Avenue. Council members Ian Holzhaur and Jennifer Bruzon Taylor cast two dissatisfaction votes.
However, as a result of the company’s interest downtown, the council is demanding a code amendment to prevent similar proposals from submitting similar proposals.
City code requires that the first floor of buildings in the downtown district of Nepearville be limited to commercial objectives. Fidelity prepared a plan in which the grassroots share of the IT operation is retail, although the company is still a financial institution. For example, it required a code variance to operate its first floor.
Its second floor location will be used for offices. The company is moving beyond its current Neproilla place in 1823 Freedom Drive.
The variance request earned a positive recommendation from the Nepearville Plan and the Zoning Commission on 15 January. City employees also recommended approval.
Finally, most of the council agreed, but with two stipend: Fidelity should appoint at least 45 full -time employees in the new center and its employees’ levels and hours should be in line with the general business practices of banks.
The conditions were added to ensure that the Center brings a new mixture of employees to the city city and employees are able to protect neighborhood businesses.
Representatives of the company assured to compliance on Tuesday.
“I am confident that our presence will be an asset for the city area, which already enhances the dynamic environment,” told the council by John Bupert, the branch leader of the current Nepelleviel Investor Center of Freedom Drive, the current Neproysville investor center of Freedom Drive.
“This property was deliberately chosen by Fidelity to increase its visibility in the neighborhood of the city,” said Cattyin Kulbertson, a lawyer representing Fidelity.
The Fidelity currently has around 250,000 customers in the Greater Neparville region, and the company hopes to “increase” that number with the inauguration of its downtown center, said Kulbertson.
The first floor of the Center will not be just a reception area for second level services, but will “really dedicate” to the service of customers, which will be the Fidelity Associates to deposit, complete account-related documents and address complex Lan -Deen, Kulbertson, will be able to work directly with.
Nevertheless, despite the company’s assurance that the center would be a boon for the city city, the approval was not without discussion.
Bruzon Taylor said that the code does not allow financial institutions at the ground level of the city district district, because we are trying … Foot traffic where each business helps another, and this is something that We believe. ,
Warning that she is voting at the variance request, Bruzon Taylor said, “Real, I think the killer is the sign for me: Fidelity Investments. The same is going to say, Fidelity Investments. So for me, it is clear for me This does not show that it is any kind of retail banking. ”
Holzhur said, “This type of use, whether it involves banking or not, is not what we intend in our city area.”
By that end, Counselor Patrick Kelly later suggested in the meeting that the city consider amending its code so that retail banks and financial institutions are no longer used for the first floor location in the city district.
Because it is not so at present, Wales Fargo will fill the rest of the first floor available in the former Barnes and Nobel Store. According to Elison Laugh, Deputy Director of the Department of Transport, Engineering and Development of the Bank Nepearville, the account will offer traditional services including management, deposits, withdrawal, accounts and loans. It will include two teller windows, five officers, a conference room, ATM room and waiting area.
The company’s building permit was issued by the city issued on 23 January, Laugh.
Kelly asked direct staff to support the council to prepare an ordinance, “Retail banks to include retail banks within the downtown zoning district by amending the city’s zoning code to include retail banks on the first floor To prevent going from going “. All the members of the council raised their hands in support of the proposal.
Kelly said, “We have found other major corners in the city that can redevelop it one day,” and I think we would not want to see another situation as if what we had here. ,
Under the direction of the council, the employees will proceed with the draft of a code modification, LAFF said. The amendment will go to the Plan and Zoning Commission before going to the council for the first final vote.