Geneva council backs plans for secondhand shops

The Geneva City Council favors letting secondhand shops open on and near its South Third Street shopping district.

It unanimously agreed Monday night with a staff recommendation to change zoning for the B3 district to allow such stores as a permitted use everywhere except on Third and as a special use for properties on Third. That would apply to stores of 7,500 square feet or less.

Larger stores would have to seek a special-use permit.

The council will cast a formal vote at its meeting Aug, 2. Monday night it met as a committee of the whole.

Community development Director Dick Untch noted that historically, city planners have been concerned about maintaining a high standard for merchandise sold in that district.

"We have this very special shopping district character along Third, and I don't think the staff, plan commission or city council would want to see uses established on that street that would take the form of selling junk or items of marginal value," Untch said.

He said there seems to be a trend developing in retail to sell new and used items together, such as the Plato's Closet clothing store that recently opened on Randall Road.

The proposal is coming about because property owner Mike Simon has a potential tenant for a building on South Third who would sell new and used women's clothing, including outfits by Armani, Lauren, St. John and other higher-end clothing lines.

Kiss the Sky in downtown Geneva sells used and new music recordings, and Good Cents Children sells used clothing.

But both are in a different zoning district that already permits secondhand shops as a special use.

Sales of furniture and large appliances would not be allowed.

"Special use" means city council approval is needed.

The B3 district is roughly bounded by James Street on the north, Fifth Street on the west, River Lane on the east and South Street on the south.