Council hears first reading to rezone seven parcels on Monroe Avenue

City staff presented a first reading of an ordinance to reclassify seven parcels in the 600 block of Monroe Avenue from R-2 single-family residential to I-1 light industrial and commercial.

Kathy Burns, development and planning, told the council, “What you have before you is a rezoning.” Burns said the seven parcels abut Richwood Industries’ West End manufacturing site and consist of four former single-family homes that would remain in appearance and be converted to office space, two parcels that continue adjacent industrial use and one parcel owned by neighboring industry. She said the proposed rezoning aligns with the city’s Comprehensive Plan 2035 and reflects current property uses. “The planning commission met on February and voted to forward this petition to city council with a favorable recommendation with a unanimous vote,” she said.

Councilman Ali Layman sponsored the ordinance and the item was moved to a second reading. No vote tally was recorded in the transcript.

The ordinance is identified in the meeting as “2025-O-01” and the staff packet included a map showing the parcels proposed for rezoning. No public comment on the rezoning is recorded in the meeting excerpt.

The council did not adopt the rezoning at this meeting; the matter will return for a second reading where a final vote may be taken.

The resolution text and the planning commission report were presented at the meeting; Burns said she was available to answer questions.