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Commissioners approve zoning map amendment to convert Midtown parking lots from institutional to commercial neighborhood
Summary
The Planning Commission approved an amendment to the official zoning map to rezone a set of underused Midtown parcels from INS (institutional) to CN (commercial neighborhood), intending to unlock redevelopment.
The Planning Commission approved a zoning map amendment to change three underused Midtown parcels from Institutional (INS) zoning to Commercial Neighborhood (CN) zoning, a move staff said will better reflect current development patterns and encourage redevelopment.
Planning bureau staff told commissioners the INS designation reflected an earlier Midtown master plan that did not fully materialize and that the institutional zoning had constrained redevelopment, leaving large surface parking lots and vacant acreage in the urban fabric. The affected parcels include a consolidated 1.01-acre lot at 320 Riley Street (previously a set of parcels and a vacated alley), a 0.57-acre lot at 1511 North Third Street, and a roughly one-acre consolidated block at 1530 North Fourth Street.
David Shutti, attorney for the applicant, and Doug Nidek of Greenworks Development appeared for the proposal. Commissioners asked about renderings and potential uses; Greenworks said designs have evolved but would generally include a podium-type mixed-use building with retail at ground floor and residential above. Commissioners said the change should help put property back on the tax rolls and promote Midtown revitalization.
A member of the public asked whether the rezoning would expand commercial zoning beyond the parcels proposed; staff clarified the change applied only to the parcels shown on the map and would not automatically extend commercial zoning further into adjacent blocks.
A commissioner moved to approve the map amendment with no conditions; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
Less-critical details: staff noted a previously approved special exception and a zoning hearing board decision in 2019 and 2024 that affected earlier project iterations and parking-relief requests, demonstrating the parcels' complex review history.
