Troy planning commission directs staff to pursue new North Troy zoning district to enable mixed‑use redevelopment

The City of Troy Planning Commission voted Feb. 10 to direct planning staff to pursue a comprehensive rezoning that would create a new North Troy zoning district intended to align local rules with the 2018 North Troy special area plan and support mixed‑use redevelopment.

Planning staff presenter Mister Carlisle told the commission the existing zoning is a "quilted" collection of office‑oriented districts that do not permit the mix of residential, retail and service uses the master plan envisions. He outlined four approaches: (1) create a single North Troy district; (2) create an overlay district; (3) amend the city’s existing districts text; or (4) do nothing and continue case‑by‑case rezonings. Carlisle said the new‑district option is the most comprehensive but the most staff‑intensive.

Resident Mary Ellen Barton urged caution, saying blanket rezoning risks excessive density and urged transparency about developer meetings. "Blanket zoning limits your ability to evaluate traffic, noise and congestion impact on individual neighborhoods before they occur," Barton said during public comment.

A developer who said he represents SR Jacobson Development Corporation, Manny Kineke, described a proposed adaptive‑reuse project at the Lehi Building at 900 Tower Drive and asked the commission to consider project needs when choosing a zoning approach. Kineke said the team envisions converting the tower to "roughly 200 residences on 14 floors" and adding smaller buildings and retail along Crooks Road to activate the street edge.

Commission discussion centered on predictability, design control and avoiding repeated ad‑hoc rezonings. "Keep it simple, stupid," said Mister Hudson, arguing for clear standards and predictable outcomes; several other commissioners said a single, tailored North Troy district would best deliver the master plan’s goals.

Commissioner Fox moved that staff pursue the first option — creation of a North Troy zoning district — and the commission approved the request by roll call. The minutes record affirmative votes from the commissioners present.

Next steps: staff will prepare a roadmap and draft language for the commission’s consideration at future meetings, including opportunities for public hearings and further public input. The commission asked staff to consider variations within a new district (for example, core vs. edge standards) to protect adjacent residential areas while enabling vertical, mixed‑use redevelopment.

What the action does and does not do: the vote directed staff to prepare zoning materials and recommendations; it does not itself change zoning or rezone parcels. Any rezoning would follow the city’s formal public‑hearing process and require subsequent commission and council action.

The planning commission took the action after a two‑hour discussion that included market context (staff cited a citywide office vacancy near 15 percent and said North Troy’s vacancy is likely higher), comments from nearby residents about preserving tree canopy and transitions, and a developer presentation about a large adaptive‑reuse proposal.