Planning & Zoning OKs rezoning for 4015 Dickinson Ave.; staff outlines problems with new UDC

The Dickinson Planning & Zoning Commission voted to rezone a parcel at 4015 Dickinson Avenue from Urban Transition to Downtown on a voice vote after a public hearing, and city staff used the meeting to report problems that have emerged since the city adopted a new Unified Development Code.

The commission approved the map amendment for roughly 6.677 acres at 4015 Dickinson Avenue after hearing from the applicant, Ershawn Lakhani, who said the new owner intends facade upgrades, pad sites for quick-service restaurants and a rear retail-flex area for small businesses. "We just acquired the shopping center," Lakhani said. "We're ready to start working on the project right away... we'll probably start in within next 3 to 6 months with all the permitting and planning." The public hearing drew no outside speakers for or against the request.

Why it matters: rezoning will expand the city—s Downtown zoning district to allow more commercial uses on the property and is intended to make the parcel more marketable to franchise retail tenants. At the same meeting, Travis Moore, the city—s chief building official and…