Planning Commission forwards recommendation to rezone 20 East Winchester Street from office to commercial development

The Murray Planning Commission voted to forward recommendations of approval to the City Council for both a general-plan amendment and a zone-map amendment for the property at 20 East Winchester Street.

Planning staff described the request as an application from Sonia Cordero to redesignate the parcel on the future land-use map from Office to General Commercial and to change the zoning designation from GEO (General Office) to CD (Commercial Development). Staff recommended that the commission forward both applications to the council, saying the change would allow additional redevelopment opportunities and conforms with goals and objectives of the 2017 general plan.

Commissioner Hacker moved that the commission recommend approval of the requested amendment to the future land-use map; Commissioner Kling seconded. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with Commissioner Hacker, Commissioner Kling, Commissioner Pearson, Commissioner Harristo, Commissioner Hildreth, Commissioner Queen and Chair Richards recorded as voting yes.

Commissioner Hacker then moved that the commission recommend approval of the requested amendment to the zoning map (from GEO to CD) as described in the staff report; Commissioner Kling seconded. The motion likewise passed unanimously on roll call.

Staff and the applicant provided supporting details during the discussion. Zac, a city planning staff member, said the parcel is approximately 0.35 acres and showed the surrounding area as predominantly commercial. He said the GO designation is intended to be compatible with adjacent residential neighborhoods, while the proposed General Commercial designation corresponds with the CD zone and allows a broader mix of uses, including larger retail and assembly spaces. The staff report noted that 52 notices of the public hearing were mailed to property owners within 300 feet and that the city received no emails or phone calls regarding the proposal.

Carter Maudsley, attorney for Sonia Cordero, said the surrounding properties are commercial development and that he did not anticipate adverse impacts from the change; he said Cordero’s future use would likely increase the city tax base. Maudsley said the applicant understands that site-specific requirements such as parking will be addressed at the time of a future permit application. Commissioners asked whether residential occupancy of the same building would be allowed; staff indicated that the land-use code provision discussed in the pre-meeting would apply and that details would be reviewed at the permit stage.

Both recommendations will be transmitted to the Murray City Council for final action; no city council decision was recorded in the transcript.