Council approves three land-use actions; two zone-change items tabled to Aug. 13

The Washington City Council on July 23 approved three land‑use items and moved two zone‑change requests to the council's Aug. 13 meeting.

The council granted a height waiver for a proposed hotel near Buena Vista Boulevard and Washington Parkway, approved a conditional‑use permit for a new Star Nursery at 1475 East George Washington Boulevard, and adopted a general‑plan amendment changing about 2.7 acres at 925 South 1900 East from estate residential to industrial. Two separate zone‑change items (agenda items 8a and 9b) were tabled at the applicants' request to the Aug. 13 meeting.

Why it matters: The approvals clear the way for immediate development activity in commercial corridors and regularize longstanding industrial use on property near 1900 East. The tabled zone changes will return to the council for final action on Aug. 13.

Height waiver (HW-25-02) The council approved a request to allow a hotel to exceed the 45‑foot maximum height in the C‑3 zone and set the maximum at 65 feet from finished grade to the highest point. Community development director Eldon Gibb presented the staff report and said the applicant's drawings showed a building height of about 62.4 feet. Councilman Coates moved approval and Councilmember Caspersen seconded. A roll call produced unanimous approval.

Conditional‑use permit (CD‑25‑03) — Star Nursery, 1475 E. George Washington Blvd. The council approved a conditional‑use permit for Star Nursery's proposed 14.1‑acre site with a primary retail/veil center, a large covered shade structure and outdoor plant areas. Staff reported the site will include three buildings (the two smaller commercial pads are not part of the CUP decision and will require separate approvals later), 322 parking spaces (69 more than required for the full site), an 8‑foot CMU wall to seclude rock yard and delivery areas, and a landscape plan with 20 internal landscape islands.

Damon Hardy and Taylor Ricks, representing the applicant, described the business's local history and said construction permits are next steps; they expect construction to proceed toward next year. Councilman Caspersen moved approval; Councilman Coates seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

General plan amendment (G‑25‑03) — 925 S. 1900 E. The council approved an ordinance amending the land‑use map to redesignate roughly 2.7 acres from estate residential to industrial so the full 41‑acre parcel has a single industrial designation. Eldon Gibb and applicant representatives said the area has been used for industrial purposes for decades and that changing the general plan is a cleanup step before a subsequent zone change to industrial zoning. Councilman Ivy moved approval; the motion passed 4–0 on roll call.

Tabling of zone changes Two zone‑change items were tabled at the applicants' requests: item 8a (Z‑25‑06) and item 9b (Z‑25‑06 for Rocky Point Circle and Arizona Drive). Both were set for the Aug. 13 council meeting.

Consent and process notes The council approved the consent agenda, including minutes from the July 9 meeting. During the hotel height discussion members asked staff to improve map labeling in presentation materials so the council and public can more quickly locate a project site on the graphics.

What the council directed next Staff and applicants will return with required building and grading permit applications, and planning staff noted that future outbuildings on the Star Nursery site must return for separate conditional‑use approvals. For the general‑plan amendment the council expects a zone‑change application to follow so zoning and land use are consistent.

Votes at a glance (recorded from the meeting) - HW‑25‑02 (hotel height waiver to 65 ft) — Motion: grant height waiver to 65 ft; Mover: Councilman Coates; Second: Councilmember Caspersen; Vote: unanimous (ayes recorded by roll call). Outcome: approved. - CD‑25‑03 (Star Nursery conditional‑use permit) — Motion: approve CUP for 1475 E. George Washington Blvd.; Mover: Councilman Caspersen; Second: Councilman Coates; Vote: unanimous. Outcome: approved. - G‑25‑03 (General Plan Amendment: estate to industrial at 925 S. 1900 E.) — Motion: approve ordinance amending general plan; Mover: Councilman Ivy; Second: Councilman Belson; Vote: 4–0 (recorded ayes on roll call). Outcome: approved. - Item 8a (Z‑25‑06) — Motion: table to Aug. 13; Mover: Councilman Ivy; Second: Councilmember Balleston; Vote: unanimous. Outcome: tabled to Aug. 13. - Item 9b (Z‑25‑06 at Rocky Point Circle/Arizona Drive) — Motion: table to Aug. 13; Mover: Councilman Caspersen; Second: Councilman Coates; Vote: unanimous. Outcome: tabled to Aug. 13.

Documentation: Staff reports and site exhibits were presented by Community Development Director Eldon Gibb; applicants and their representatives spoke on record during each item.