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Council debates Lakewood rezone and removes auto-washing as a neighborhood- commercial use
Summary
Councilors reviewed a rezone for 1560 S El Bonhoeffer West in the Lakewood neighborhood, with concerns that the proposed mixed-use/commercial designation could allow hotels or gas stations rather than neighborhood-serving businesses; council voted to remove "auto washing and polishing" as a conditional use in the SC1 zone and asked staff to address buffer and transition concerns.
City staff presented a rezone request for 1560 S. El Bonhoeffer West, showing proposed changes to the general plan and zone map and including a concept plan for mixed-use development.
Councilor Peggy Bogdan objected to parts of the proposal, saying the West Side’s area plan anticipated residential uses rather than general commercial and that the mixed-use designation could invite hotels or gas stations that would not function as neighborhood-serving businesses. Bogdan urged stronger transition buffers between commercial parcels and adjacent homes and asked that design and driveway placement be better integrated with surrounding residential property. Other councilors and staff discussed whether SC1 (neighborhood commercial) or CG (general commercial) better captured the council’s intent and whether certain uses should be limited to conditional-use permitting.
During the Lakewood discussion, Councilor Bogdan moved to remove "auto washing and polishing" as a conditional use in the SC1 zone. A colleague seconded the motion. Councilors verbally recorded support (several said "yes" on the roll call) and staff confirmed the motion passed.
Councilors continued to question staff about whether the proposed zones were applicant-driven or staff-driven, whether the general plan’s use of "mixed use" was clear, and whether the council needed to provide additional guidance to the planning commission about the scope of any recommended changes. Staff said the rezone reflected the applicant’s choices but aligned with the general plan’s mixed-use designation.
The council did not adopt final map language at the work session; it requested additional clarifications and asked staff to return with responses to the questions raised at the meeting.
