Planning commission forwards rezoning of 5670 Tremont Ave to city council with conditions

Planning and Zoning Commission members voted unanimously Tuesday to forward a rezoning petition from Anthony Properties to the Davenport City Council, recommending approval of a request to change about 1.15 acres at 5670 Tremont Avenue from I-1 (Light Industrial) to R‑MF (Multifamily Residential).

The recommendation, made by city staff and moved for forwarding to council, includes six findings and one condition requiring a buffer yard at least 15 feet wide, with a six‑foot fence and landscaping along the north and south property lines.

The rezoning request was presented by Matt Hsu, city planner, who said the parcel is currently undeveloped and historically used for farming and lies within an industrial corridor on Tremont Avenue. Hsu noted the parcel is immediately east of the Jade On Tremont Apartments, a property the City rezoned in 2023 to allow multifamily development. "This request is consistent and even a continuation of the ordinance that was adopted in 2023," Hsu said, and staff recommended forwarding the case to council with the approval finding that the rezoning aligns with recently adopted city land use policy despite differing from the comprehensive plan's industry designation.

Brian Shue, director of development for Anthony Properties, told commissioners the firm has attempted to acquire the parcel multiple times since 2023 and described the proposed change as primarily to provide a new access point and a clubhouse for the adjacent multifamily project. "There's really not gonna be any multifamily buildings on this 1 acre. It's really just the clubhouse and the access drive, the multifamily staying on the 10 acres to the west," Shue said.

Commissioners asked about traffic and the access drive; Shue said the access is expected to be two lanes (one in each direction) and "meets our minimum requirements at the very least of 24 feet wide." Hsu clarified engineering details are preliminary and the access drive had not been fully engineered at the time of the meeting.

Staff explained the proposed condition shifting a landscaping buffer onto the new residential developer is intended to avoid imposing new landscaping obligations on existing, established industrial uses to the north. Staff also said one written comment had been received from the property owner directly north of the site, opposing the rezoning and asking that Tremont Avenue remain industrial.

A roll call vote approved forwarding the rezoning to council with the stated findings and condition. The case will next appear before the Davenport City Council for a final decision.

Less urgent procedural items and background material were discussed earlier in the meeting, including notice sent to property owners within 200 feet and publication in the Quad City Times.