211 West Landis Avenue plan amendment

The VDID chair and Al's Shoes owner said the board has worked over 10 years to move the 7th and Landis soup kitchen off the avenue and opposes adding or expanding similar services downtown, though he supports the mission elsewhere.

The VDID executive director cited rampant shoplifting (losing a vendor monthly), public urination, overdoses and needles downtown, and said 70-80% of the city's 10-28 food pantries are already concentrated downtown — a fourth would hurt the business district.

A VDID employee who opposed the downtown variance, citing the homeless crisis and VDID's revitalization investment, but praised the organizer and asked the city to help her relocate and recoup her costs.

The applicant clarified her project is a holistic homelessness-prevention program, not just a pantry, and vented about months of confusing city referrals and a fee jump from $200 to $900 before learning the area wasn't zoned for social services.