The Planning and Zoning Commission on July 22 voted 5-3 to recommend rezoning a property south of 130 Fourth Street and west of Chicago Avenue from Low-Density Single-Family (SF-2) to Light Industrial (LI). The applicant said the site contains deteriorated manufactured homes that he plans to replace with four to five smaller warehouse or garage buildings; several nearby residents urged the commission to preserve the area's residential character and objected to potential storage-unit uses.
Jeremy Steen, representing the buyer, said the intent was to "scrape these buildings and build 4 to 5 smaller, warehouses" and described the project as a low-intensity, light-industrial use with a 100-foot setback to the rear and a 15-foot buffer yard along any adjacent residential properties. "His intent was to build a bit of, like, a small community there," Steen said.
Les Beatty, speaking for several neighbors, said he and longtime residents opposed the rezoning. "We don't want storage units up next against us," Beatty said, adding that the surrounding road already has multiple storage developments and that the neighborhood has been occupied by residents for decades.
Staff noted that the future land-use map designates the area for low-density residential, but said the property is a nonconforming use today and that LI could align the site's legal zoning with how the block has developed. Because written opposition within the notification boundary exceeded 20 percent of the land area, the case will require a supermajority at City Council; the commission's 5-3 recommendation advances the case to Council for final consideration.
Commissioners who voted in favor said the proposed design, including large setbacks and buffer yards, would reduce direct impacts on adjacent homes; commissioners opposed cited concerns about precedent and loss of residential character.
The case will proceed to City Council for final action; the applicant and staff will provide the commission's record and the written opposition for Council consideration.