Council approves zoning to allow two sit-down restaurants at former Davis Memorial site

The City Council voted unanimously to approve a zoning change and plan development to allow two sit-down restaurants on a city-owned parcel at the northwest corner of Lola Drive and Davis Boulevard that formerly housed Davis Memorial United Methodist Church.

Corey (planning staff) introduced the request and explained the application would change the site's existing institutional (U) zoning to a Non-Residential Planned Development to accommodate two full-service restaurants totaling just over 9,000 square feet and to preserve the existing community garden. He said the site plan includes a sidewalk along Greenwood Way (a Planning & Zoning recommendation), enhanced landscaping, parking dedicated to the community garden, and plans to retain mature trees where possible.

Representatives from Mad Concepts, the applicant, presented concept images and said the two-restaurant design (Jake—s Burgers and Tacos & Avocados) would include a large, family-friendly backyard patio, enhanced landscape buffers to the neighborhood, and additional parking. Cameron Hayes (Mad Concepts) said the intent is to be a community partner and not a late-night bar: "We're not a chain. We're not some late night crowd. I don't want there to be a bar business. That's absolutely not who we are," he said, adding the majority of business is done by 10 p.m. on weeknights.

Economic development staff (Craig Hulse) told the council the site lies within the Easy Streets empowerment zone and said sit-down restaurants were the top business type requested by residents in citizen surveys. He described the project as a potential catalyst for broader redevelopment along the Davis corridor.

Public testimony included a nearby resident, Shawna Stiles, who asked what would prevent the city or developer from selling the property in a few years for a profit; city staff and the applicant said the development agreement and deal points include safeguards and claw-back provisions to protect the city—s investment and to preserve project intent.

Councilmember Rodriguez (speaker 3) moved to approve Ordinance 3916; the motion passed 7-0.

What the approval does: the rezoning to a PD allows the restaurants and the associated site improvements (landscaping, pedestrian access, parking accommodations and the proposed sign standards included in the PD). Staff said the community garden will remain in place and that some public-infrastructure improvements are part of the approved plan.

Next steps: site plan technical details and building permits follow the zoning approval. Council did not modify the PD conditions beyond accepting the Planning & Zoning recommendations (sidewalk, landscaping, trash screening).