Planning commission recommends rezoning two Commerce City lots from R2 to I2

The Commerce City Planning Commission voted 5-0 to recommend that the City Council approve a zone change for two adjacent vacant lots at 6925 and 6981 East 50 Fourth Place, changing their zoning from R‑2 (single‑family attached residential) to I‑2 (medium‑intensity industrial), case Z24‑0006.

The recommendation would allow the two 0.7‑acre parcels (about 1.4 acres combined) to be consolidated and used for industrial purposes, including accessory outdoor storage adjacent to an existing service garage on the neighboring property owned by the same company.

Why it matters: Staff and the applicant said the requested zoning would align the parcels with surrounding I‑2 uses in the South Rose Hill/Fusion District and the Commerce City comprehensive plan guidance. Neighbors’ concerns documented to staff included the prospect of outdoor storage without a building, windblown dust, on‑site drainage and buffering; the applicant and staff said those issues will be addressed in the concurrent development plan review.

Jennifer Grant, principal architect with Quintessence Design Group, represented the applicant and said Matheson Holdings (the property owner) seeks to rezone the two lots so the property’s zoning matches adjacent industrial parcels. Grant said the parcels would be replatted into a single lot and that the development plan will include surfacing to reduce dust, a sizable detention pond tied to the municipal storm system, setback and screening fencing and new landscaping. She said the applicant has coordinated with the fire department to provide circulation for an 85,000‑pound fire apparatus and would replace sidewalk and curb cuts in the right of way.

Dalton Guerra, senior planner with the Commerce City Planning Division, summarized staff analysis and recommended approval. Guerra said the site is in the Fusion District and South Rose Hill character area, where industrial uses are identified as acceptable. Guerra said staff received one letter of public comment raising concerns about outdoor storage without a building, dust control, drainage and buffering; he noted the development plan under review proposes on‑site surfacing, an on‑site detention pond and screening to mitigate those issues and that outdoor storage is an allowable accessory use in I‑2 when standards are met. Guerra also said the applicant’s traffic study estimated about three daily vehicle trips for the proposed use.

Commission discussion focused on the loss of potential housing on the three small residential parcels in that area, tradeoffs related to landscaping and sidewalks, and whether the location is appropriate for residential use. One commissioner said the three lots in question are an anomaly in an otherwise industrial area and supported rezoning to bring the site into conformity with surrounding properties. Another commissioner asked whether a building is planned; Guerra answered, “No. There’s no proposed building for this subject site.”

The commission made a formal finding that the requested I‑2 zoning meets the land development code criteria and voted 5‑0 to recommend City Council approval. The staff noted a concurrent final plat consolidation and a development plan application remain under staff review. City staff announced the zoning case will go before City Council on 05/05/2025.

Next steps: If City Council approves the rezoning, the applicant must complete the consolidation plat and the development plan review. Those submittals will be reviewed for required surfacing, landscaping, screening and stormwater detention before any outdoor storage use is authorized.