Planning commission recommends rezoning for 13-unit pocket community on South Husband Street

The Stillwater Planning Commission voted 4-0 April 15 to recommend the City Council approve map amendment MA 25-03, a rezoning request for 1017 and 1023 South Husband Street from two‑family residential to Commercial Business to allow a 13‑unit pocket‑community residential development.

Josh Brown, the city’s development coordinator, described the request as “a map amendment” and said the city’s comprehensive plan calls for commercial uses at the site. Staff recommended the commission accept findings supporting the rezoning and forward the request to the City Council with a favorable recommendation.

The applicant, Corey Williams, identified himself as the project developer and said the proposal seeks to create a pocket‑community of about 13 single‑family residences with community amenities and reduced lot setbacks. “Humans wanna be where humans are,” Williams said, describing the goal of adding downtown housing to support nearby businesses. Williams said unit sizes would range from roughly 900 to 1,300 square feet and the buildings would be two stories.

Consultant Stephen Gose of Gose and Associates said the site comprises six platted downtown lots that are about 25 feet wide and 140 feet deep and therefore do not meet the city’s 1‑acre minimum for a planned unit development (PUD). “They were platted as 25 foot wide by 140 feet deep,” Gose said, explaining why the applicant applied for CB (Commercial Business) zoning rather than a PUD. He also said alley access and using inset parallel parking on South Husband and diagonal parking on East Eleventh Avenue were part of the design approach.

Members of the public asked questions during the hearing. Resident Sharon Hoker asked how 13 units fit on the two parcels; Williams and staff said the original plat created six narrow downtown lots and that the proposed design fits within that historic lot pattern. Resident Janet Rogers asked whether vehicle access from the alley was allowed; staff and Gose said alley access is not prohibited and in other nearby form‑based redevelopment has been encouraged to reduce curb cuts on main streets. Staff also said a sidewalk would be required along both frontages when the site is developed and that public‑safety concerns about fire apparatus outriggers were discussed during predevelopment review.

After discussion, a commissioner moved to accept staff findings and recommend the City Council approve MA 25‑03; another commissioner seconded. The motion passed 4‑0. The Planning Commission’s action is advisory; final approval rests with the City Council.

Votes at a glance - Map amendment MA 25-03 (rezoning 1017 & 1023 S. Husband St. from two‑family residential to Commercial Business) — Motion to accept findings and recommend approval; mover: Commissioner 6; seconder: Commissioner 5; vote: 4 yes, 0 no — Recommendation approved by the commission (advisory to City Council). - Approval of minutes (April 1 meeting) — Motion approved (minor wording correction noted); vote recorded as passed. - Motion to adjourn — Passed 4-0.

The recommendation will be scheduled for consideration by the City Council; the commission did not set a specific Council hearing date during the meeting. The commission then approved the meeting minutes with a minor correction and adjourned.