Council rezones longtime lumberyard at 620 Jefferson to C-3 after owner seeks rebuild

The Washington City Council on July 21 voted to rezone 620 Jefferson Street from R2 overlay (two-family residential overlay) to C-3 General Commercial, following a public hearing in which the property owner described long-standing commercial use and the need to rebuild a deteriorated structure.

City staff presented a map and recommended rezoning the parcel to C-3, saying the surrounding parcels include commercial and light industrial uses and that rezoning would align the property with adjacent zoning. At the public hearing, Billy Eppelcamp said he represents Louis B. Eppelcamp Inc., the family-owned lumberyard at the site. Eppelcamp said the structure was damaged in a recent tornado and straight-line winds and that his family has owned the property for about 60 years. He asked the council to approve rezoning so the owner could rebuild and retain the existing zero setback to the sidewalk and alley.

No members of the public registered opposition at the hearing. Council members moved, seconded and recorded aye votes to adopt the ordinance on second reading; the transcript records the motion as carried.

The ordinance rezones the property from R2 two-family residential overlay to C-3 General Commercial in the City of Washington, Franklin County, Missouri. Staff did not provide additional conditions tied to stormwater, building design or a development timeline during the hearing; the applicant will need to follow usual building-permit and zoning-submission requirements for any reconstruction.

The council also approved related procedural motions moving the item into the minutes and adopting the ordinance at second reading that evening.