At the Jan. 6 Plan Commission meeting the Planning Division provided several informational updates: a neighborhood meeting on a proposed redevelopment at 2826 Milton Avenue, an upcoming series of Plan Commission briefings on the city’s zoning code rewrite, and notice of an extension of Sand Hill Drive that will implicate property owned by a commission member.

Staff said Woodman's Food Market, owner of the former Everhart O’Leary dealership site at 2826 Milton Avenue, is proposing to redevelop the parcel with a combined gas station, convenience store, oil-lubrication/change-oil facility and car wash. A neighborhood informational meeting hosted by the developer is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 at 9 a.m.; city staff will attend to answer questions about development process, zoning and roadway improvements.

Staff also said the consultant Grama, contracted to assist with a zoning code rewrite, has compiled public engagement and code audit work and will brief the Plan Commission on preliminary findings and a proposed schedule. Commissioners discussed holding a special presentation in early February; staff suggested Feb. 3, 2025 as the earliest practical date and said they expect roughly three or four commission briefings and public outreach events before midsummer to produce a working draft.

Commissioner Markley disclosed that he or his company owns property north of a planned extension of Sand Hill Drive (deferred in budget for 2025) and said he would recuse himself from Plan Commission actions affecting that land. Staff also gave a procedural update on a proposed residential project on Rockport (referred to in public comments as the "Bear" development): staff said the project would require rezoning of a former industrial site, conditional use review and additional public hearings; no timeline for a formal submittal was provided, and staff noted a complete submittal typically requires roughly seven to eight weeks of review once filed.

Staff said they will circulate notices and media summaries to allow commissioners and council members to attend neighborhood meetings without violating open meetings requirements.