City planning staff previewed a rezoning request Sept. 2 to convert a property at 1710 South Cherry Street from Single-Family 9 to General Retail so Donald and Sharon Mutchinson can relocate their spice business to the site.

"The applicant is Donald and Sharon Mutchinson...they're proposing to rezone 3.336 acres from single family 9 to the general retail district," the staff presenter said, noting the parcel's land-use designation is Mixed Use under the city’s recently updated comprehensive plan. The staff presentation identified an existing house on the property that the applicant intends to repurpose for commercial use.

Staff told council the request will go to the Planning & Zoning Commission for a public hearing next Monday; if recommended, the council will consider first reading of the ordinance on Sept. 15. The presenter noted the property is small and that some intensive uses (for example, a gas station with pumps) would be impractical on the parcel. Council members asked whether a neighborhood retail district or conditional-use requirements might better limit potential uses; staff said they would check zoning alternatives and noted neighborhood retail could be an option to provide additional protections.

Nut graf: The request conforms to the current land-use designation in the comprehensive plan, but council members requested staff research whether a less intense zoning district or additional use restrictions (conditional use permit or text amendment) would be appropriate before the commission hearing.

Ending: Planning staff will proceed to the Planning & Zoning Commission public hearing and will investigate whether neighborhood retail or conditional-use tools are appropriate; no rezoning was approved Sept. 2.