Planning commission recommends City Council approve Downtown Peoria rezoning Z24-12

The Peoria Planning and Zoning Commission on March 6 voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council approve a city-initiated rezoning, Z-24-12, to unify zoning in the downtown core, staff said.

Staff told commissioners the request would rezone about five acres — split between agricultural and planned area development (PAD) zoning — to match newly adopted downtown districts and the city’s recent code text amendment. "Staff finds that the rezoning request supports the general plan's vision for downtown as a vibrant and walkable area," Deputy Director Lori Deaver said.

The site is south of Peoria Avenue and west of Grand Avenue; staff said roughly 3.5 acres are an existing city park and about 1.5 acres are a mix of commercial, future mixed-use parcels and vacant lots. Deaver said the rezoning is a cleanup effort so the downtown map and underlying districts align with the council-approved text changes and with existing Main Street/core commercial designations.

Only one member of the public spoke at the commission hearing. Resident Roy Adams, who lives at 8344 West Washington near the Performing Arts Center, said he is a disabled veteran and described parking near his home as already difficult. "My biggest concern right now is when you're developing anything in the downtown areas, it circulates around parking for one thing," Adams said, adding he was denied a residential parking permit while a neighbor has reserved business spaces.

Commissioners pressed staff on parking and accessible stalls. Deaver said the downtown zoning does not impose new parking requirements and that the city will continue to evaluate on-street striping and accessible parking when changes or development are proposed: "We are actively looking at the parking situation within the area," she said. Commissioner Phyllis Lisonbee said she appreciated that parking is on staff’s radar: "I know it's a problem that can balloon quickly if not addressed," she said.

The commission discussed outreach staff conducted for the rezoning, including postcards, neighborhood meetings and an official neighborhood meeting on Feb. 5 at the William Botanic Community Center, which staff said drew one property owner, one nearby employee and Councilmember Crawford; staff reported no written opposition or support for the case.

Commissioner Fighter made the motion to approve Z-24-12 and Commissioner Cottrell seconded. The commission voted 4-0 to forward a recommendation of approval to City Council; commissioners recorded no dissent.

The Peoria City Council will consider Z-24-12 at a future meeting in April, when final action on the rezoning would occur.