Council hears rezoning request for small event center at 20 E. Winchester

Zoning staff presented a land-use amendment and map amendment request for property at 20 East Winchester Street from property owner Sonia Cordero. The owner proposes converting a single-family dwelling and adjacent land from General Office (GO) to Commercial Development (CD) to allow a small event center for private gatherings (the applicant described small "quincea'eras-type" events and other small parties).

Planner Zachary Smallwood noted the site sits in an area with CD zoning nearby and that the 2017 general plan's office designation reflected pre-pandemic expectations for office demand. Staff recommended changing the future land-use category to "General Commercial" and rezoning the parcel to CD to allow the range of uses typical in that district. The Planning Commission held a public hearing on Feb. 20 and voted 6-0 in favor of the recommendation to the council.

Council members questioned parking feasibility, setbacks, demolition of the existing house and whether a future owner might try to reintroduce residential occupancy. Smallwood said parking will be reviewed at development-application stage and that an event center would be held to higher parking standards; he also said the applicant has appealed prior land-use code determinations successfully and that staff would need to coordinate building and appeal history with the city attorney and building officials.

No public comment was recorded during the council discussion; the item was presented as a formal application and left for future action (staff to process any subsequent development application and to return with formal findings if the council moves forward).

What happens next: if the council votes to approve the zone change it will allow CD uses to proceed; if the applicant pursues an event-center use the city will require development-level parking and code compliance.