Planning commission urges council to deny rezoning of West Lane Street parcel

The Planning Commission on a recorded roll call voted to recommend denial to the City Council of a rezoning request affecting roughly 2.59 acres at West Lane Street, where property owners sought reclassification from I‑1 (light industrial) to C‑2 (general business).

Staff said the parcel is historically and currently zoned I‑1 and is identified on the city’s future land use map as mixed‑density residential, creating inconsistencies with the requested C‑2 designation. The staff report noted that rezoning would create a split‑zoned pocket and cause existing warehouses to become nonconforming, including setback noncompliance; a brick “milk” building on the property would be the only structure that would comply if rezoned C‑2.

Commissioners said the area has a long history of industrial use and pointed to aerial maps and past subdivision records showing the site’s I‑1 use dating back decades. A staff presenter said the parcel is not contiguous with existing C‑2 zoning, and multiple owners of the affected tract would need to resolve title and subdivision barriers for the developer’s intended convenience store and fuel sales to proceed.

Commissioner (unnamed) moved to send an unfavorable recommendation to the City Council; the motion was seconded and passed on roll call with eight affirmative votes and zero negative votes.

Why it matters: Staff and commissioners said approving the request would create spot zoning and multiple nonconformities on a site surrounded by longstanding industrial uses. Commissioners raised concern that the future land use map does not reflect current conditions and suggested the map be reviewed in the near term.

The commission’s action sends the item to the City Council with the commission’s unfavorable recommendation; the council will make the final decision.