Rezoning request for 9156 Jewell Road fails after commission hearing over U-Haul, future uses

The City of Central Zoning Commission voted down a rezoning request for Track H1 at 9156 Jewell Road that would have changed the parcel from B-2 Neighborhood Commercial to B-3 General Commercial.

Applicant Tangela McPike told the commission she operates a thrift store on the site and sought B-3 to allow vehicle uses she said were necessary for her operation, including larger trucks for pickups and a potential U-Haul rental/distributorship. "The intent is to be able to, place the truck and things like that to be able to, assist in bringing in property," McPike said during the hearing.

Several commissioners and members of staff expressed concern that rezoning to B-3 would permit a wider range of commercial uses—some commissioners called that range incompatible with the surrounding B-2 parcels—and that rezoning would change the long-term character of the area if the current tenant vacated. The staff report noted that some uses the applicant described are not explicitly listed in the code and were treated as similar uses associated with B-3.

A motion to approve was seconded and put to a roll call. The motion did not pass; commissioners recorded both yes and no votes and the application failed at the commission level, meaning it will not carry a recommendation for approval to city council from this hearing.

The commission discussed alternatives that could allow McPike to pursue specific vehicle-related uses without a full B-3 rezoning—such as a conditional or limited approval tied to a single use—but commissioners and the applicant noted limits on the commission’s authority to impose permanent use restrictions on a rezoning. The transcript shows a clear split: supporters felt the thrift-store and rental option could be compatible; opponents worried rezoning would set a precedent allowing more intense commercial uses to encroach on a predominantly B-2 area.