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Midway work session trims permitted commercial uses, sets size and placement limits near Town Square
Summary
City staff proposed removing several vehicle- and event-related commercial uses from the C3 downtown zone, capping certain retail footprints at 15,000 square feet, and keeping alcohol sales subject to state distancing rules. Councilors debated parking, enforcement and nonconforming historic uses.
Midway city staff on Sunday outlined a package of code changes aimed at protecting the Town Squarearea from large, infrequently used commercial uses and preserving street-level retail. The packet would remove several auto-oriented businesses and event centers from the walkable C3 zone, apply a 15,000-square-foot building footprint cap for many retail and recreational businesses, and reserve ground-floor space within 50 feet of state roads for active uses.
"If we allow residential in the C 3 zone, we have to allow all types of residential," said Speaker 2 during the discussion about residential and congregate-care uses, citing federal fair housing constraints. Staff told the council the proposal would limit certain residential congregate facilities to eight residents to match existing local rules.
On vehicle-oriented uses, staff said car washes have noise and residential interface problems and were discussed for removal after a conditional-use denial more than 15 years ago. "There are a lot of car washes within 5 miles of here, and so there's options definitely for people," Speaker 2 said, summarizing past cases.
Short-term lodging would be allowed in both C2 and C3 with limits: no hotels or motels in the commercial zone, units capped at eight or fewer, and ground-floor short-term lodging prohibited within 50 feet of the front property line on state roads so that street-level retail and restaurants remain the primary frontage.
Council members pressed staff on practical consequences: parking constraints on Main Street, parcel sizes that may not support large footprints, and how nonconforming but historic uses (for example a church currently housed in a former wedding chapel) would be treated. "When it's being used, it's very active," Speaker 2 said of event uses, "but a lot of times it might not be used."
Staff said police and fire stations would not be allowed as new facilities in C3; existing public safety buildings could remain. The package also includes conditional permitting for commercial parking lots to address lighting and noise issues.
The council did not take a vote. Staff will incorporate the councils direction and return with revised code language and maps for the planning commission and a future public hearing.
