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Council moves B‑3 General Business zoning forward; public hearing set for July 8
Summary
The Richmond Heights City Council advanced an amendment that creates a new B‑3 General Business zoning classification and scheduled a July 8 public hearing on a companion rezoning ordinance that would apply the district to parcels near the airport.
The Richmond Heights City Council advanced an ordinance to add a new B‑3 General Business District and scheduled a public hearing July 8 on a separate ordinance that would map the new district onto specific parcels near the airport.
The B‑3 designation (Ordinance No. 71‑2025) was presented at the committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday as a consolidated district combining provisions from the existing B‑1 and B‑2 business districts. Chelsea, planning staff, said, "the B 3 General Business District is a new district we created to allow more types of businesses to operate within the city of Richmond Heights." She said the district was drawn to be "conducive with the location that it is going to be placed in." The planning commission recommended approval of both Ordinance No. 71‑2025 and the related map amendment, Ordinance No. 74‑2025.
City attorney Todd explained the link between the two measures and the practical effect: council could pass Ordinance No. 71‑2025 (the zoning code changes) but, "if we don't pass 74, it won't apply to any land at this time in Richmond Heights," meaning the B‑3 rules would not be placed on the city's official zoning map until 74‑2025 is adopted.
Chelsea said the draft code lists certain prohibited uses; when asked, she named "housing" and "marijuana" as examples of uses that are prohibited in the B‑3 text as presented.
Council moved and seconded a motion to schedule the required public hearing on Ordinance No. 74‑2025 for the July 8 council meeting; the motion carried on a recorded vote. Council also noted they will notify property owners affected by the rezoning. At the committee meeting members repeatedly asked clarifying questions about the relationship of the two ordinances and how the B‑3 district could be applied to other parcels later if council chose to do so.
Why it matters: the B‑3 district will govern what commercial and conditional uses are allowed in the area identified by the map change. Applying B‑3 to parcels now designated as office/industrial will also trigger parcel rezoning for some lots that speakers said have historically been residential.
The planning commission recommended both measures; the council set a public hearing on Ordinance No. 74‑2025 for the July 8 regular meeting so residents and property owners can comment before any final vote.
