Council approves rezoning and 34‑lot preliminary subdivision for Lake Forest Cove

City Council approved an ordinance to amend the official zoning map for approximately 18 acres at 1701 Lake Forest Drive, rezoning the parcel from multi‑family residential to single‑ and two‑family residential. Council also approved a related preliminary subdivision (Lake Forest Cove) for 34 single‑family lots on about 17.947 acres.

City planner Sam reported there were no changes from the first reading and that the property owner declined to expand the rezoning to additional adjacent parcels. During public comment, Roxanne Arnales urged council to pause and allow broader public discussion — including inviting comprehensive plan steering committee members — before changing zoning that the steering committee originally recommended for multifamily housing. Arnales emphasized the city’s housing needs assessment, the shortage of options for households at or below 50% of area median income, and the importance of preserving multifamily development potential to meet low‑ and middle‑income demand.

Council members discussed concerns about “spot rezoning” and whether developers should be asked to seek broader rezonings rather than selecting narrow parcels. One councilor said they supported the rezoning in this case for multiple reasons including environmental sensitivity and the lack of development activity on the property for years; another noted they believed the owner’s decision not to pursue rezoning for the whole parcel was unwise but not disqualifying. Planning Commission comments at the meeting characterized the proposed subdivision as thoughtfully designed under the city’s conservation subdivision rules and expected it to be an attractive neighborhood with preserved wooded areas and pond amenities.

Both the rezoning ordinance and the preliminary subdivision ordinance were adopted by roll call vote at the meeting.