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68 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, September 12, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend July 25, 2004 Central Point lowers small business fees in attempt to liven up downtown By BUFFY POLLOCK for the Mail Tribune CENTRAL POINT — Opening a small business here just got a lot cheaper. The City Council on Thursday approved deep discounts on street system development charges for small businesses throughout the city and, no matter the size, a little more help for those opening shop in a special downtown zoning district. City Administrator Phil Messina said the action is geared at encouraging the small business spirit in an attempt to bring more life into a struggling downtown. "I think it’s gonna be a really positive move for the downtown in drawing small businesses," Messina said. "Opening a small business can be tough and some of the fees can be overwhelming. We’re just trying to give ’em a hand." Street system development charges are charged to new businesses to cover the impact of new development on city infrastructure, based on increased traffic and road use. Advertisement Retroactive to Sept. 1, the change provides new businesses smaller than 2,500 square feet with a 75 percent discount on the charges. In addition, businesses within the downtown’s vertical housing district, which emphasizes mixed-use zoning, would be reimbursed for fa�ade improvements deemed complementary to downtown revitalization efforts. Opened in recent months, Antonio’s Italian Restaurant owner Randy Lamonaco paid around $27,000 in development charges and was actually forced to take out a high-risk loan to cover the expense. Lamonaco said, while he would not be eligible for the 75 percent discount — his building measures larger than 4,000 square feet — he was grateful to the city staff and council members for "showing compassion to small business owners." He will get several thousand refunded because he improved the restaurant’s fa�ade. "To be able to hopefully get eight to nine thousand (dollars) back, it’s better than a stick in the eye and its something I didn’t expect," said Lamonaco following the Council’s Thursday night decision. "I’m still actually paying the bank on a loan I had to take out just to cover those fees. "It’s really tough to get a small business going, so I’m grateful for the support of the City Council. I appreciate their personal approach. I’d love to get more back, but I can’t complain. They tried 100 percent to do as much as they could for me." Buffy Pollock is a free-lance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities