The Urbana Plan Commission on Dec. 18 continued consideration of a rezoning request for 904 East Main Street (Plan Case 2517M25) to the commission’s next regular meeting, giving staff time to answer technical zoning questions and allowing the petitioner to decide whether to withdraw and refile to rezone both adjacent parcels.

Planner Aymir Roussy told the commission that staff’s analysis found the request aligns with the city’s 2025 Imagine Urbana comprehensive plan and recommended forwarding the map amendment to the City Council. "Staff are recommending approval of the zoning requests," Roussy said, summarizing findings on compatibility, public health and safety, and avoidance of hardship.

Dr. Susan Norris, one of the veterinarians at Good Friends Animal Hospital and the petitioner’s representative, described the existing house at 904 East Main as deteriorated and said the clinic recently bought the adjacent 908 parcel. "We are looking to, at some point, expand our clinic," Norris said, adding that the site might be used for parking or green space in the near term and that the clinic wants to work with neighbors.

Commissioners pressed staff on technical points — side yard setback, block-face/build-to requirements, and whether an alley had been vacated — and on the choice of zoning district. Commissioners noted that although B‑3 matches the adjacent parcel, its list of permitted uses includes more intensive commercial activities that could be incompatible with the Neighborhood 1 place type in the comprehensive plan. One commissioner warned that B‑3 allows "things like a liquor store, a tavern or a nightclub," a concern cited during discussion.

Given those concerns, the commission voted to continue Plan Case 2517M25 to the next scheduled meeting to allow staff to research whether a less-permissive district (for example, B‑1) could accommodate the clinic use without exposing the neighborhood to other B‑3-allowed uses, and to let the petitioner and staff consider withdrawing and refiling for both parcels so they share a single zoning classification.

The motion to continue was moved by Commissioner Fell and seconded by Commissioner Sims; a roll-call vote recorded Rose, Sims, Yu, Allred and the final roll-call name as voting yes and the motion passed.

What’s next: staff will report back with clarified answers on block-face requirements, setback implications for building additions across zoning lines, and the procedural steps needed if the petitioner wants to withdraw and refile to rezone both parcels as a single case. The commission will revisit the case at its next regular meeting.