Roosevelt councilors back starting rezoning process for Harmsen Avenue; public hearing set

Roosevelt City Council on an agenda item about property behind Sunrise Title Company directed staff to move forward with a rezoning proposal for parcels along Harmsen Avenue and scheduled a public hearing for the next regular meeting.

Planning staff told the council the request was meant to give direction on zoning options for property behind Sunrise Title Company and Maya Swain's CPA, including one parcel owned by property owner Greg Harvston. "We're looking for some direction with the zoning possibilities for a rezone of this area," the presenter said, asking whether councilors preferred to extend a multi‑family zone or keep the area single‑family.

The parcels currently sit in a commercial zone, staff said, and a house that burned on Harvston's property several years ago lost any grandfathered residential use after remaining vacant. Staff described options including RM‑13 (about 13 units per acre), R‑16 (single‑family, 6,000‑square‑foot minimum lots) and RM‑18 (highest-density zone the city has, roughly 18 units per acre). "RM‑13 would allow fourplexes or similar multifamily; R‑16 would allow a duplex only with conditional use," staff said. Council discussion focused on avoiding a residential zoning “island,” whether to rezone only the south side of the street, and whether to extend a multifamily zone up to Highway 40.

Residents asked how a rezone would affect individually operated home businesses and existing apartments. One resident asked, "If you change it to residential, would I still be able to run my business out of it?" Planning staff replied that home‑office uses would generally be allowed but higher traffic and parking could change the review. Staff also noted nonland‑use constraints that would have to be addressed during construction, including an electrical line that crosses the parcel and would have to be relocated before building could proceed.

Council members debated whether to extend an RM district (multifamily) or R‑16 (single‑family) and discussed grandfathered allowances — for example, small properties currently allow backyard animals under R‑16 that typical RM zones do not. Several councilors noted the block already includes a fiveplex and multiple duplexes; staff said that pattern supported extending an RM district. Staff also provided a parcel size example (0.29 acres) and said any future multifamily project would still have to meet setbacks, parking and other code requirements; an RM designation does not compel building of the maximum density but permits those uses where the site and market allow.

A motion to proceed with a rezoning proposal that would include the Harvston parcels and bring an RM‑18/RM‑13 proposal to public hearing passed on a roll call. Jed Baker and Winston recorded aye votes; John Heiliger voted nay and said he preferred R‑16; other council votes produced a majority in favor. Staff will notify nearby property owners and place the formal public hearing on the next meeting agenda.

The council made no final land‑use decision tonight; the hearing will be the venue for public comment and any final vote on a specific ordinance change.