River Heights council approves rezoning for Taylor property after 3-2 vote

Mayor Jason E. Thompson presided over a March 4 River Heights City Council meeting that culminated in approval of Ordinance 3-2025 to rezone a Taylor family parcel from agricultural to R-1-12 by a 3-2 vote.

The vote followed a successful motion to reconsider the rezone and a discussion that referenced the city's general plan and moderate-income housing guidance. The planning commission had recommended R-1-8 (single-family) at its public hearing; council members debated whether R-1-12, R-1-10 or R-1-8 would be most appropriate and whether adopting R-1-12 would set a precedent for future spot rezonings.

Council members heard one public commenter, resident Britney Castia, who urged the council to approve the rezoning and said the Taylors "seem like a really nice family" and that their proposal "sounds really nice." Castia also told the council that, in her view, the proposed R-1-8 designation around the site makes sense and that the Taylors' plans would be compatible with the neighborhood.

City staff told the council that the city attorney had reviewed the planning commission record and advised the council that it has the authority to adopt, modify, or reject the planning commission's recommendation, provided the council remains within the scope of the public hearing. Staff noted that R-1-10 and R-1-12 are also single-family lot zones and that those options had been judged permissible to consider because the planning commission public hearing had described the proposal as a single-family-lot rezoning.

Council debate cited two recurring concerns: preserving consistency with existing surrounding zones and avoiding what some members called spot zoning; and, conversely, allowing more housing diversity as contemplated in the general plan and the city's moderate-income housing plan. One council member said the city has little R-1-12 zoning and that R-1-12 could accommodate larger lots the Taylors requested. Another council member emphasized the risk of setting a precedent that could be cited by future applicants seeking different spot rezonings.

After discussion, a motion to adopt Ordinance 3-2025 to rezone the parcel to R-1-12 was made and seconded. The ordinance passed 3-2. The council asked the planning commission chair to discuss with the planning commission the possibility of amending the city's general plan to show additional properties along 800 South as R-1-12 rather than agricultural; staff said any general-plan changes would follow the normal process and that properties could not be rezoned without the property owner's request.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 3-2025 (rezoning of Taylor parcel to R-1-12): passed, 3-2 (vote tally by name not specified in the transcript). Referenced action: adopt ordinance; outcome: approved. - Motion to reconsider the rezoning (procedural): passed (voice vote). Outcome: approved. - Motion to declare city iMac surplus property: passed (voice vote). Outcome: approved; council later set a sale price of $400 by consensus. - Motion to approve previous meeting minutes (02/18/2025) with amendments and to adopt the agenda with one item removed (800 South residential sewer hookups): passed (voice vote). Outcome: approved. - Motion to go into executive session to discuss pending litigation: passed (voice vote). Outcome: approved.

Council members and staff indicated next steps: staff will prepare any required ordinance language, and the planning commission will be asked to consider whether the general plan should be amended for properties along 800 South. The council also directed staff to return with the formal purchase order for updated locks for the old school basement (see separate items) and to place final actions and ordinances on a future agenda for formal adoption and recordation.

The meeting proceeded to other agenda items, including discussion of the old school building signage and leases, parks funding requests to the county for wraps tax reallocations, and appointments for the Development Review Committee; those items were discussed separately elsewhere on the agenda.