Council annexes Persimmon Drive parcels and approves industrial zoning, contractor warehouse uses

The Auburn City Council unanimously approved annexation of approximately 5.83 acres at 301 Persimmon Drive and 10.08 acres at 306 Persimmon Drive, rezoned the parcels from rural to industrial, and granted conditional use approvals for contractor warehouses and offices on both properties.

Planning staff reported that the Planning Commission had unanimously recommended annexation and rezoning at prior meetings. The council introduced ordinances and asked for unanimous consent; public hearings were opened and closed with no public speakers. For 301 Persimmon Drive the council authorized a commercial support use for a 13,800-square-foot contractor warehouse and office. For 306 Persimmon Drive the council authorized a commercial support use for 14,280 square feet of contractor warehouses and offices.

City staff noted the annexations bring existing warehouse/industrial activity into city limits, and that the properties previously benefited from services outside city limits. Council discussion referenced benefits including fire and police protection and local tax revenue. The mayor and planning staff clarified that additional zoning and conditional-use approvals were required separately and had been processed by the Planning Commission before the council vote.

Meeting context: The annexations and rezoning were processed with unanimous consent and were accompanied by the conditional use approvals; no members of the public spoke at the hearings. The actions were recorded as approved during the regular agenda.