DeKALB | DeKalb City Council officially adopted the downtown revitalization plan at Monday’s meeting.

“Tonight’s vote is very significant, historic in fact,” said 5th Ward Alderman Patrick Conboy.

Conboy thanked the mayor and the “Renew DeKalb” organization. Other city council members followed, calling the plan’s adoption reason for celebration and an opportunity for the rebirth of the downtown area.

“We’ve stepped up to bat,” said Mayor Frank Van Buer, referring to both the revitalization and the vote directly beforehand to borrow $1 million for land purchases. The primary piece of land sought by the city is a parcel at the intersection of North First and East Locust Streets.

Though the buildings at the location are currently occupied, city manager Mark Biernacki said all leases were short term and would expire within one year. At that point, the buildings would be demolished and open for new plans as part of the renovation. The city hopes to use the money to purchase other parcels as they become available.

Two contentious issues came before the council with different endings. The rooming house ordinance changes, which drew a large crowd of anxious rooming house owners to the previous council meeting, was passed 7-0 after only one public comment.

An ongoing issue over landscaping and granting a special-use permit for construction along Sycamore Road was sent back to the city planning committee. The property owner, Steve Irving, intends to build an AAMCO Transmissions after placing what the city called an “effective screen” between his property and residential property nearby.

What should be placed as a screen has been a topic since November of 2006 when the city and Irving agreed to use trees instead of a plain fence. Irving agreed to plant ten trees and accused the city of micromanaging when it asked him to lose two trees and add shrubs to create an even denser visual barrier.

Third-Ward Alderman Steve Kapitan, who Irving cited as the source of much of his frustration, said he was following the recommendations of the city’s arborist, or tree specialist.