Council approves future land-use change and rezoning for 520 Milton Street to allow local retail

Staff presented CPA25-0002, a request to amend the future land use map for two parcels at 520 Milton Street from low-density residential to mixed use so that a forthcoming rezoning would be consistent with the comprehensive plan. Miguel, the city planner, explained the change was requested because the applicant intends a nonresidential zoning category for local retail and said the planning and zoning commission had reviewed the application in December.

The applicant, who identified himself as Sonny, described a local retail concept and provided a nonbinding concept plan for council reference. Staff emphasized that any future site plan would still require technical review by planning, engineering, fire, and building officials and that the concept plan handed out cannot be used as the basis for final approvals.

Council held the required public hearing, asked questions about notice and parking, and voted to change the future land use designation to mixed use. The council then opened a separate public hearing for ZONE25-0003 to rezone the parcels from single-family residential to local retail. Staff recommended approval, noting no written submissions for or against had been received. After closing the hearing, council voted to approve the rezoning ordinance, clearing the way for the applicant to submit a formal site plan and engineering reviews.

Council members highlighted interest in preserving an historic house on the site if feasible and asked staff to ensure any site-plan review addresses parking, fire access, and compatibility with neighboring residential uses. Staff said the site-plan review (post-ordinance) will be the venue for those technical checks.

Next steps: applicant may submit site plans for formal review; staff will coordinate reviews with public safety, engineering, and planning.