Applicant seeks mixed-use rezoning for half-block; council agrees to public hearing and notices

Joe Humphrey appeared before the council on March 25 to request a rezoning of roughly three acres—about half a block—near Main Street to combined-use (mixed-use). Council members agreed to proceed to a public hearing and directed staff to notify adjacent property owners and prepare a rezoning resolution.

Planning staff described the lot layout and utility considerations: water and gas lines run under the road; sewer would need to be extended to Cemetery Lane through a 10-foot public right-of-way; the property will require fire-hydrant access and a drainage plan for any proposed parking. "There's a right away right here to run the utility...they have to bring utilities from Cemetery Lane," Planning staff said while explaining the servicing issues.

Council members discussed potential uses the applicant mentioned, including a reception center on the north building, retail and small office spaces in rear buildings, and recreational spaces such as a tumbling gym or dance studios. The council emphasized that at this stage it could only advise whether the rezoning appears feasible and could not approve a zoning change without a public hearing and resolution.

Staff told the council they can advertise a public hearing as soon as two weeks and will prepare the required letters to adjacent property owners. The council generally signaled support for moving the application forward to the public-notice and hearing stage; no rezoning vote was taken at the meeting.

If the council votes in favor at the public hearing, staff said it will prepare a rezoning resolution and document specific utility and drainage conditions to be addressed during engineering review.