Hurricane council reviews 511-response civic-center survey, asks staff to draft plan under current zoning and height limits

Hurricane City Councilors reviewed results of a citywide civic-center survey that yielded 511 responses and showed mixed public sentiment on whether the municipal civic-center site should include commercial space, housing or a public–private partnership.

"We did receive 511 surveys," Fred, a city staff member who analyzed the results, told the council, summarizing the online and paper returns and mapping respondent addresses.

The survey showed roughly 244 respondents favored rezoning the property to allow commercial and residential development while 166 opposed any rezoning (approximately a 60/40 split when 'yes' choices were combined). Responses were split on financing: a sizable group supported using a public–private partnership (P3) option, while a substantial block opposed P3 financing. On housing, a combined group of respondents slightly favored allowing affordable or workforce housing over outright opposition: when the "yes" categories were combined, the margin was roughly 52–48 percent. The most popular building-height preference on the site was 35 feet.

Council members pressed staff for options the city could afford without expanding zoning or height limits. "What I am hearing is that we put together some kind of the numbers because I don't know if we actually have the numbers at our current height and zoning and say this is what a civic center is," the mayor said during discussion. Several councilors said they were unwilling to raise allowable building heights above 35 feet.

Staff recommended the next step be a set of proposals that (1) stay within current zoning and height limits, (2) include financing and phasing scenarios, and (3) compare leasing versus selling city land. Council agreed and directed staff to draft a plan that prioritizes two core civic buildings (city administration and police) while presenting phased build-out options and financing strategies to close any funding gap.

Public commenters highlighted housing construction methods and site layout. Ross Johnson, who described himself as working in precast construction, said he is developing a system that could deliver lower-cost housing and asked the city to consider land for production. "I'm working on the precast ... I think we could work on these some better costs," he said. Peggy Hall, another resident, urged the council to show alternative site layouts that distribute smaller housing units across the 20-acre site rather than clustering them in one corner: "I would like to see some different plans that show different options that way."

Councilors also discussed preserving city ownership of the land rather than selling it. One councilor recommended ground leases (long-term leasing of city land) so the municipality retains public control for future needs.

No ordinance change or formal zoning action was taken at the meeting. Staff will return with cost estimates, phased concept plans that conform to current zoning and height limits, and analysis of leasing versus sale options for council consideration.