At the Jackson meeting, there was heated discussion over the ongoing Buscaglia Restaurant project and it’s historical significance. In discussions with City Planner Susan Peters, several Jackson citizens were in attendance and voiced strong opinions on the issue. The owners of Buscaglia’s applied to build a new, larger structure behind the parking lot that would house the restaurant, as well as lodging and banquet facilities. Since all ordinances were met, they received a ministerial building permit, and constructed the new building in accordance with the C-2 zoning laws; however, some locals feel that the architecture does not fit in with the surrounding neighborhood and there are worries over increased traffic and parking shortages.

Another on-going controversy involves the original building’s historical value. The most recent plans outline the removal of the second story, as well as the roof and a portion of one wall, and the construction of a parking area.  Since this plan described a considerable amount of building loss, the Site Plan Review Committee determined it to be a discretionary project and referred the matter to the City Planning Commission for review. If approved as a discretionary project, the building would undergo a historic evaluation. After noting that considerable changes had already been made to the existing structure and listening to public comments that were generally in favor of remodeling the building, the commission determined that the owners could continue with their remodeling plans. As it stands now, the City Attorney and the City Planner are researching the matter to determine if there is a method by which the public can appeal the Planning Commission’s ruling.