Planning staff recommended denial of a rezoning request to change a West Vine Avenue parcel from DKG (Downtown Grid) to DKB (Downtown Boulevard), saying the property's street pattern and the downtown design guidelines favor active, mixed-use ground floors in grid areas. The parcel is west of South Gay Street, adjacent to commercial uses and across from the Immaculate Conception Church.

Staff explained the primary distinction between DKG and DKB: DKG is intended for traditional 300-by-300-foot grid patterns that emphasize pedestrian orientation, building entries every 50 feet, less blank wall area and ground-floor uses that engage walk-in traffic. DKB allows larger setbacks, longer blank-wall allowances and can permit residential-only ground floors. Staff said West Vine Avenue is a narrow, one-way street and not a boulevard context intended for DKB, and staff referenced nearby projects that show how rezoning to DKB altered ground-floor use outcomes.

Why it matters: staff said approval to DKB could allow developments with residential ground floors and fewer pedestrian-oriented design features, potentially reducing street activation. Commissioners discussed whether flexibility could be provided through a special-use process within DKG that would allow consideration of residential ground floors on a case-by-case basis without changing the base zone.

What commissioners said: several commissioners voiced support for targeted flexibility rather than broad base-zone changes. One commissioner suggested adding a special-use pathway to DKG for limited instances where market conditions make ground-floor commercial unfeasible, allowing the commission to review and condition such cases. Commissioner Karen noted downtown's market has changed over 20 years and urged balancing market realities with design goals.

Next steps: staff recommended denial at the agenda-review; the rezoning request will be heard by the Planning Commission. Commissioners asked staff to consider whether a special-use permit or a UDO change could provide a controlled method for granting ground-floor residential when appropriate. No formal vote was taken at the agenda-review meeting.