Planning staff tabled a zone‑change request, asked applicant to hold community meeting

Planning and zoning staff told the budget meeting they had tabled a zone‑change item at a recent hearing after substantial public comment and asked the applicant to pursue a comprehensive plan map amendment and to hold a community meeting before resubmitting.

"We told some lot to go back and apply for a comprehensive plan map amendment, and so we tabled the item last night. They agreed to do that, to go back and apply for that. But there were a 110 people showed up. 71 signed up to speak," Speaker 2 said summarizing the prior evening’s hearing.

Staff said the concerns raised included traffic, pollution and other impacts tied to the proposed industrial/commercial change. Planning staff said they encouraged the applicant to host a community meeting to address impacts and gather local feedback before returning for another hearing.

The planning director said the postponement saved several hours of hearing time and allowed staff to insist on additional analysis of traffic and environmental impacts prior to any zone‑change decision.

Why it matters: Applicants for land‑use changes are typically required to show how proposed zone changes align with the comprehensive plan and to engage affected neighbors; tabling the item and requiring a plan‑amendment application can change the project timeline and required studies.

Next steps: Planning staff will send a letter prepared by the county attorney’s office to the applicant and wait for the applicant to file the comprehensive plan map amendment and hold a community meeting before the item returns to the department for processing.