Council defers contested M‑3 rezoning after neighborhood concerns; amendment to M‑2 remains an option

Council debate over a proposed rezoning from C-4 to M-3 for a roughly 0.88-acre parcel became the evening’s most contested item. Planning Division Director Dan Warner told the governing body that Planning Commission recommended M‑3 and staff agreed it fit the site context, but multiple councilmembers and neighborhood representatives raised concerns about density and building height.

Councilmembers pressed whether the applicant and neighbors would accept M‑2 as a compromise. Councilman Spencer Duncan and others said they heard the applicant could accept M‑2 and suggested either amending the motion that night (requiring seven votes) or deferring to allow further conversation. Councilwoman Ortiz argued remanding to the Planning Commission would be preferable so the public could be heard at the planning level.

Councilman Marcus Miller moved to continue the item to the Oct. 7 meeting so staff could confirm the proposed M‑2 option and neighborhood leaders could be consulted; Miller said the pause would avoid making a hasty amendment without stakeholder input. "My motion is to continue for 2 weeks," Miller said during the meeting. The motion carried with an 8–2 vote; Councilmembers Ortiz and Banks voted no. The clerk and city attorney clarified that the continued ordinance will return to council as advertised (M‑3) and the council will have the opportunity to amend it at that time.