Centerville council debates land-use changes, directs staff to study West Side and targeted infill

Centerville City Council members met Jan. 14 at Centerville City Hall for a special session focused on the city's general plan and future land-use map, heard a presentation and asked staff to study targeted changes — especially on the city's West Side — and to report back after a public open house scheduled for Jan. 30 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Councilmember Spencer framed his presentation around what he called "graduated continuity," urging incremental transitions in use, building height and density rather than abrupt changes between single-family neighborhoods and denser housing. He said the city faces a supply shortfall and described policy-driven barriers to redevelopment: "We have supply constraints based off of our current land use plan," Spencer said during the presentation.

The discussion centered on three linked goals: increasing housing supply in ways that fit neighborhood character, preserving Centerville's existing residential areas, and identifying locations where higher-density or mixed-use development would be appropriate. Spencer offered specific places for further study,…