Council approves rezoning at 624 W. 20 Second Ave to allow proposed barn

Stillwater — The Stillwater City Council voted 5-0 Aug. 18 to approve a map amendment rezoning 624 West 20 Second Avenue from small-lot single-family residential and agricultural (RSS) to agriculture (A), after the Planning Commission recommended approval 4-0 on July 15. The rezoning will allow the property owner to build a barn as the primary structure on a parcel the city staff said currently has no buildings. "The applicant is proposing to build a barn on this property as the primary structure," Henry, planning staff, told council during the public hearing. The request covers the southern portion of the parcel that is currently zoned RSS while most of the surrounding property is already zoned agriculture. Staff showed the council an aerial view, zoning map and the city’s future land-use map, which calls for agriculture and low-density residential uses at the location. Henry also noted that most of the surrounding property is flood plain. Councilors had no public speakers at the hearing and moved to accept the Planning Commission recommendation. The motion to accept the commission’s recommendation passed 5-0. On first reading, Ordinance No. 35-78, the rezoning ordinance, was advanced to second reading by a 5-0 vote. Why it matters: The rezoning changes the legally permitted uses for the parcel and enables the owner’s immediate plan to construct an agricultural structure rather than a residence; it will be subject to any site- and building-permit requirements the city enforces during plan review and permitting. What happens next: The ordinance has been advanced to second reading; if adopted on second reading, the zoning change will take effect per the ordinance’s terms and with any required recording and permit filings.