Planning commission recommends rezoning East 16th Street properties, approves variance for 3040 East 16th Street

The National City Planning Commission voted 5-1 on Aug. 18 to recommend that the City Council approve a general plan amendment and rezoning that would change several properties on East 16th Street from RS-2 (small‑lot residential) to MXC‑1 (minor mixed‑use corridor), and separately approved a zone variance for 3040 East 16th Street that the applicant said is needed to deliver a five‑unit infill housing project.

The action follows a staff presentation by David Welch, associate planner, who told commissioners the applicant is proposing a 0.45‑acre infill site at 3040 East 16th Street and has included four neighboring parcels in the rezoning request so that existing multifamily and commercial uses on the block would conform to the requested MXC‑1 district. "The applicant's property is currently vacant and suitable for infill development," Welch said, noting the project site is served by a nearby transit stop and that the applicant reduced the initial concept from three stories and seven units to two stories and five units in response to fire‑department comments.

Why it matters: the proposal would allow a five‑unit multifamily building on a vacant parcel that is currently limited to a single dwelling under RS‑2. Staff…