Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Monroe council approves similar-use finding that clears way for tow‑yard at 70 Kentucky Ave in 4–3 vote; sewer code update adopted
Summary
After staff analysis and planning commission recommendation to deny, council voted 4–3 to determine 70 Kentucky Avenue an outdoor storage use (allowing tow‑yard operations under conditions); separately, Ordinance 25‑002 (sewer code amendment) passed on final reading.
Monroe City Council on Monday approved a similar‑use determination allowing outdoor storage and tow‑yard activities at 70 Kentucky Avenue by a 4–3 vote, despite a planning commission recommendation to deny the request.
City staff explained that the property owner applied to use the site for vehicle storage and tow‑yard operations. Director Mark Hackran told the council the zoning code defines vehicle tow yards as a form of 'outdoor storage'—a use that is not permitted in the property’s MU‑1 zoning district. Staff noted that one nearby tow yard (1019 Franklin) operates as a legal nonconforming use because it predated rezoning, but the Kentucky Avenue location was never permitted for outdoor storage and therefore presented a different legal issue.
During deliberations council members debated the ordinance language and code gaps—chiefly the outdoor‑storage standards that currently require vehicles to be licensed and operable, a condition that conflicts with wrecked or inoperable vehicles typical of tow yards. Cochran/Hackran told council that the zoning code will need clarification to better distinguish tow yards from general outdoor storage but that the request before council was the application actually filed.
The motion to determine the use as outdoor storage for case D25‑00370 (70 Kentucky Ave) passed on a roll call 4–3. The roll call as recorded in the meeting transcript was: Councilperson Strayhorn/Stringham (Yes); Felder (No); Heder/Hader (Yes); Milgrave/Stillgrave (Yes); Vining (No); Jermaine (No); Mayor Clark (Yes). The planning commission had recommended denial of the similar‑use determination.
Separately, council placed Ordinance 25‑002 (amending Chapter 5.70 regarding sewers) on the floor for final reading and approved it on the record earlier in the meeting by roll call; the transcript records a unanimous affirmative result on the ordinance vote.
What’s next: Staff said the code’s outdoor storage/tow‑yard language needs refinement and that the planning and legal teams have discussed narrower conditions (employee parking only, tow‑truck parking rather than long‑term wrecked‑vehicle storage) as alternative paths. Council did not direct a specific text amendment at this meeting beyond noting the code ambiguity.
