Mount Pleasant board approves zoning change along Washington Avenue to C‑2

The Mount Pleasant Village Board approved Ordinance 14‑20‑25 (ZMA25‑09) on Oct. 27, rezoning parcels at 6625, 6617, 6611, 6533, 6525, 6409 and 6401 Washington Avenue from residential or split zoning to the C‑2 commercial district.

Village planning staff told the board the change is intended to “clean up the zoning map and allow for easier redevelopment” of parcels located on a state trunk highway that the comprehensive plan lists for mixed residential‑commercial use. The planning commission unanimously recommended the amendment at its Oct. 22 meeting.

Sam Schultz, village planning staff, said the C‑2 district permits “moderate intensity commercial, low intensity manufacturing, and upper story residential uses” but prohibits high‑intensity uses such as drive‑throughs, gas stations and automobile repair and sales. When a resident asked what the village meant by “low‑intensity manufacturing,” Schultz offered examples: “think like a cabinet shop, shoemaker…or small‑scale food manufacturing like a small brewery,” adding that the district would not accommodate uses that require semi‑trucks or heavy industrial operations.

Resident Michael Perk (6410 Washington Avenue) also asked whether the rezoning could lead to a tax‑increment financing district; board members responded that it would not. The staff explained that many parcels are narrow and platted before modern land‑division rules, which makes consolidation and mixed‑use redevelopment more likely than single‑lot residential redevelopment along Highway 20.

A trustee moved to adopt the ordinance and the motion was seconded. The board recorded audible roll‑call affirmations; the motion carried with the trustees present voting “Aye.”

The ordinance updates the official zoning map to reflect the village comprehensive plan’s guidance and to allow certain commercial and mixed‑use redevelopment. If a property remains continuously occupied as residential, it would retain legal nonconforming status; however, staff said a building that ceases residential use for more than a year could lose those rights and would be subject to the new zoning rules.

Details not specified at the meeting include any immediately proposed redevelopment applications for the rezoned parcels or an implementation timeline for consolidation of lots.