The Vermilion City Council advanced two rezoning ordinances to third reading Tuesday and scheduled public hearings for related parcels, while a resident during public comment called one of the requested rezonings “spot zoning.”

A resident who identified himself as Mister Cat, of 3972 Edgewater Drive, told the council he believes a rezoning request behind a Mark Lawrence facility constitutes “spot zoning” and said there was “no detail, no commitment as to what was gonna be built there.” He added that citizen opposition to storage units should weigh on council decisions: “More than 2 thirds of your citizens said we will not have storage units.”

The ordinances advanced at second reading were Ordinance 20 25 50, rezoning approximately 6.55 acres from B-3 Highway Commercial District to R-5 Residence District with a cluster overlay, and Ordinance 20 25 51, rezoning approximately 0.5636 acres from R-5 Apartment Residence District to B-3 Highway Commercial District. Both were described in the meeting as having been recommended favorably by the Vermilion Municipal Planning Commission and were moved to a third reading.

Nut graf: The council’s procedural advance keeps the rezonings on track toward a final vote but leaves substantive questions open. Residents raised concerns about parcel size, surrounding land uses and the absence of a concrete development plan; council members scheduled public hearings before final action.

In the meeting’s final announcements, the council president said a public hearing on the rezoning of property behind 1701 Liberty Avenue (A B-3 to R-5) and on 4615 Libby Avenue (R-5 to B-3) will be held at a Sept. 22 meeting beginning at 6 p.m., followed by the regular council meeting. That scheduling aligns with the council advancing the two ordinances to later readings.

Discussion vs. decision: The council did not adopt final ordinances on the two parcels; the items were advanced to third reading. Public comment raised objections and alleged inadequate planning commission review, which council members acknowledged when scheduling further hearings. The transcript contains no formal vote adopting either rezoning ordinance at this meeting.

Ending: The rezonings will return to council for final readings and public hearings; residents and council members will have further opportunities to present evidence and testimony before any map amendments take effect.