Planning commission recommends rezoning at 624 West 20 Second Avenue to allow barn

Planning commissioners voted 4-0 to recommend that the city council approve a map amendment to rezone the southern portion of 624 West 20 Second Avenue from RSS (small‑lot single‑family residential) to A (agriculture). A city planning staff member told the commission the map amendment is needed because a standalone barn is not allowed in residential zoning unless a primary residential structure exists on the parcel. Staff presented an area map, aerial and street views, and the future land‑use designation from the comprehensive plan, and recommended the commission accept the findings and recommend council approval. The applicant, Scott Larson, who lives at 621 West 20 Second Avenue across the street, told commissioners he had bought the property a few years ago, has made substantial improvements and wants to place a storage building on the higher, non‑floodplain portion of the lot. "It's just about stewardship at this point," Larson said. He said the structure would be used to store a tractor and a couple of collector cars and that he did not intend to build a house on the lot. A city planning staff member described the zoning pattern on the parcel as agriculture on the north and RSS on the southern portion adjacent to 20 Second Avenue and said the applicant's request would change only the RSS portion to agriculture. The staff presentation also noted the property is adjacent to floodplain areas and showed the comprehensive plan's future land‑use designation as agriculture and/or low‑density residential. During discussion, one commissioner said, "This seems like a no brainer," and the motion to accept staff findings and recommend council approval passed on a 4-0 vote. The commission did not attach conditions or direct additional study in its vote. The planning commission's action was a recommendation; final approval of the rezoning requires a subsequent decision by the city council. The commission's clerk noted the next regular planning commission meeting is scheduled for Aug. 5, 2025.