Council approves comprehensive plan and zoning map amendment for Hyatt Street block

The Lebanon City Council on Jan. 8 adopted an ordinance amending the city’s comprehensive plan and zoning map to change a 0.91-acre block bounded by Oak Street, Hyatt Street, East Ash and an alley from residential low-density to residential mixed-density and residential high-density zoning.

Kelly Hart, Community Development Director, presented the staff report describing the amendment as a block-scale change intended to bring zoning into conformity with adjacent high-density zoning to the west. Hart said properties involved include addresses 1008, 1030, 1050 and 1070 Hyatt Street and a city-owned parcel that is the East Ash right-of-way. “The parcels are all already within the city of Lebanon city limits, and they are currently designated as residential low density in the comprehensive plan and residential low density in the zoning code,” Hart said.

Hart said the block contains a mix of existing single-family and duplex properties; one parcel contains four nonconforming units built before the zoning code. She told the council the anticipated change would allow modest infill—likely the addition of one unit over a garage on an existing parcel—rather than large apartment redevelopment without property consolidation.

Applicant testimony came from Laura Larocque of Udell Engineering, who said the properties are served by public streets and utilities and border an existing high-density zone. Larocque said the amendment “will help to meet the city's goals for their housing production” and would allow infill opportunities while noting the parcels are under separate ownership and not likely to be redeveloped at high intensity.

The planning commission held a public hearing on Dec. 18 and unanimously recommended adoption. After the city attorney read Ordinance number 3032, the council moved, seconded and approved the ordinance by voice vote.