The City Commission on Sept. 8 approved a small‑scale future land‑use map amendment and a companion rezoning to permit commercial automotive uses on a 25.11‑acre parcel east of the Grama property and near Newberry Oaks. The ordinances were approved in successive votes: the future‑land‑use amendment passed unanimously and the rezoning to Commercial Automotive (Ordinance 2025‑34 / LDR 25‑12) was approved on a 4–1 roll call vote.
Stacy Hectis of the Community Development Department presented the applications and recommended approval; she said the parcel lies in the city’s commercial corridor and overlay and that the zoning change would be subject to overlay restrictions. The applicant did not give a substantive presentation at second reading.
The nut graph: Supporters said changing the land use and zoning will allow commercial development at a gateway location; several commissioners and residents voiced concern about automotive sales such as used‑car lots and confirmed that specific automotive‑sales uses (used cars, recreational vehicles, boats, ATVs) require a later special‑exception process under the corridor overlay.
Commission debate focused on the practical effect of the rezoning: Commissioner Coleman asked whether the commission could later prevent automotive uses; staff and other commissioners explained that automotive‑sales uses that are controversial were placed as special exceptions in the overlay and would need to come back to the commission for approval. Commissioner Farnsworth and others told the applicant that public sentiment against a used‑car lot at the gateway had been clearly expressed at prior hearings.
Public comment included a question from a resident who asked whether the rezoning commits the city to any particular business; staff and commissioners clarified this action sets the land use and zoning but that individual businesses would have to pursue site plans, special exceptions, or separate permits as required. The rezoning passed on a roll call vote with Commissioner Maison voting no; Commissioners Long, Clark, Coleman and Farnsworth voted yes.
Why it matters: The decision changes what commercial options developers may pursue, while retaining commission oversight for specific automotive sales through special‑exception and site‑plan review; the outcome preserves both commercial development potential and a later opportunity for public and elected review of uses that have been flagged as controversial at the city’s entrance corridor.