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Commission approves rezoning at 205 North Shore Drive to allow duplex; nearby trustee expresses opposition
Summary
By a 5–0 vote the Planning Commission recommended rezoning 205 North Shore Drive from R1 to CO to allow the applicant to build a duplex. A nearby trustee opposed the change, saying commercial zoning would harm property values; staff said CO permits duplexes and highlighted adjacency to existing CO zoning.
The Hastings Planning Commission voted unanimously on Dec. 16 to recommend that the City Council rezone 205 North Shore Drive from R1 (urban single-family) to CO (commercial office, non‑retail) so the owner can build a duplex.
Applicant Allen Anderson told commissioners he and his wife want a duplex because of mobility concerns and long‑term plans to age in place. "My wife and I simply just wanna build a duplex townhouse duplex on that property," Anderson said, explaining they have owned the lot for many years.
A trustee speaking on behalf of an adjacent property owner, West Woods, opposed the rezoning, saying a commercial designation would "diminish the value" of neighboring residential property and represent commercial encroachment. Woods noted a neighbor had submitted a letter of opposition and urged the commission not to approve the change.
Kevin (Development Services staff) explained the city's municipal code allows duplexes in a CO district and said the requested CO zoning is adjacent to existing CO zoning, so the request is an expansion rather than spot zoning. He also cautioned that rezoning does carry the possibility of other future non‑residential uses: "I would say 99.9% that Alan's gonna follow through with his expectations of building a duplex on that property... But when you rezone a parcel like that, there is a chance of it being developed as a commercial non‑retail office."
Commissioners asked whether rezoning to CO created a risk that the parcel could later house non‑residential uses; staff said an owner could seek rezoning again in the future, but the current application fits adjacent zoning and the comprehensive plan considerations described. After discussion the commission voted 5–0 to recommend approval of the rezoning ordinance.
Next step: the recommendation will be considered by the Hastings City Council.
