Council approves first reading to allow duplex at 2407 Mayo Street with parking condition

The City Council of the City of Commerce approved on first reading an ordinance to amend the comprehensive zoning ordinance and allow a conditional use permit for duplex use at 2407 Mayo Street in the R7 single-family dwelling district.

Mister Harbor, director of community development, told the council that the applicant sought to convert the single-family house at the corner of Mayo and Jackson into a duplex. Harbor said the applicant's plan met development regulations for the R7 district, including the minimum per-dwelling-unit floor area of 1,100 square feet; the applicant proposes to add to the rear of the structure to reach that standard. Harbor said setbacks would not be encroached, and the proposed parking area would not sit inside the lot's visibility triangle.

Harbor reported that the Planning and Zoning Commission (PNC) recommended approval, with a condition requiring the applicant to widen the parking area to meet the minimum width called out in the International Zoning Code. Harbor explained the code's 9-foot width per parking space metric and said the applicant's initial submission showed 35 feet total width; PNC and staff recommended widening to 36 feet to meet the two required off-street spaces per unit (9 feet per space times four spaces equals 36 feet).

At public hearing, applicant Jared Von Rosenberg described his company's rehabilitation work on local rental properties and said the duplex would help meet student housing demand. Von Rosenberg said each side of the proposed duplex would have about three bedrooms and be provided two parking spaces per unit (four total). A member of the public identified in the record as the PNC chair (name not specified) opposed the conditional-use approval on grounds that allowing the duplex could set a future precedent; Harbor and other councilmembers said the approval would apply only to the property under consideration.

After public comment closed, a councilmember moved to pass the ordinance on first reading; the motion was seconded and the council approved by voice vote. Harbor noted the item will return to council for additional consideration on May 20 as part of the city's ordinance-reading process.

The council's approval on first reading includes the PNC-recommended condition to widen on-site parking to meet the minimum width requirement; Harbor and staff will monitor the applicant's compliance during permit review.