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Westminster council introduces PI zone amendment to allow hotels, expand retail cap to 30%
Summary
Council introduced Ordinance 2025-O9 to add hotels as a permitted use in the Planned Industrial (PI) zone, raise the acreage cap for retail/service uses from 15% to 30%, and allow the Planning & Zoning Commission to approve specified development-plan amendments.
The Mayor and Common Council of Westminster introduced Ordinance 2025-O9 on Oct. 13, 2025, a text amendment proposing to change uses and procedures in the Planned Industrial (PI) zoning district.
The ordinance would add "hotels" to the list of permitted uses in the PI zone, increase the allowable gross acreage for local retail businesses and service-shop uses under section 164-75(d) from 15% to 30%, and authorize the Planning and Zoning Commission to approve development-plan amendments related to those retail and service uses instead of requiring final approval by the mayor and common council.
Zoning Administrator Mister Dipo described the ECDC's earlier consideration of streamlining the process and increasing the acreage limitation to give property owners more flexibility while maintaining legislative control over the list of allowed uses. Mister Whitworth introduced the ordinance to the council and recommended referral to the Planning and Zoning Commission for review and recommendation.
Councilmember Huff spoke in favor, saying the change is intended to be "business friendly" and to provide flexibility for property owners and employees in industrial areas who would benefit from nearby retail and service amenities. Councilmember Dayhouse (a longtime council member) said he was "uncomfortable" with transferring final approval authority to the Planning and Zoning Commission without further justification, but indicated an open mind and said he would review the ECDC's case before taking a final position.
Councilmembers discussed the origins of the proposal: property owners and developers had requested a modest increase in the retail cap, and the council's committee expanded that proposal to 30 percent to provide greater future flexibility. Several councilmembers described the transfer of limited approval authority as ministerial in nature, applying only to the specific retail/service uses listed in the code; broader development-plan amendments and major changes would still require council approval.
Councilmember Hough moved to introduce Ordinance 2025-O9; Councilmember Gilbert seconded. The council approved introduction by voice vote and referred the ordinance to the Planning and Zoning Commission for review.
A member of the public, Kelly Miller representing the owners of the Carroll County Commerce Center, spoke during citizens' comments later in the meeting and said the owners were encouraged by the ECDC's initiation of the text amendment and looked forward to participating in the review process.
The introduction does not change the code yet; it begins the formal review path that includes Planning and Zoning Commission consideration and further council action.
