The Grand Junction Planning Commission voted July 8 to forward a recommendation of approval to City Council to rezone a 3-acre site at 830 Gunnison Avenue (the former East Middle School) from RM‑8 (residential medium 8) to P2 (public, civic and institutional campus).

Thomas Lloyd, senior planner in the Community Development Department, told the commission the site is located east of North H Street between Hill and Gunnison avenues and has been vacant since the end of the 2022–23 school year. Lloyd said the P2 district is an implementing zone for the city’s Residential Medium comprehensive-plan designation and would allow a wider range of civic and institutional uses while requiring compatibility in scale with surrounding neighborhoods.

Mark Austin, representing Mesa County Valley School District 51 and Austin Civil Group, said the district seeks additional flexibility to use the existing school building for administrative and counseling functions that are not allowed under the current RM‑8 zoning. "The district is trying to do more administrative support functions at that school building, and that's not an allowed use in the RM‑8 zone district," Austin said.

Staff analysis cited multiple comprehensive-plan goals — including redevelopment of underutilized sites, collaboration with the school district, and placing civic uses near parks and neighborhoods — and concluded the rezone satisfies the criteria in section 21.02.050 M3 of the zoning and development code. Lloyd noted the site abuts Washington Park to the east and that P2’s dimensional and bulk standards are intended to make campus-style development compatible with adjacent residential areas.

There was no public testimony on the item at the hearing. Commissioner Weckerly asked whether P2 imposes a maximum density; Lloyd replied there is no maximum density specified and that other controls (height limits, parking) help regulate scale. A motion to forward a recommendation of approval (city file RZN-2025-246) carried 7–0.

If City Council approves the rezone, District 51 would have expanded zoning options for reuse of the former East Middle School building; future site- or building-level plans would return to the city for review under the P2 standards and other applicable code requirements.