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City of Cody planning board split on rezoning 1400 block of Beck Avenue
Summary
The Planning and Zoning and Adjustment Board heard from property owners and staff on a request to rezone multiple parcels on Beck Avenue; a motion to recommend rezoning to D-1 commercial failed for lack of the four-vote majority required, leaving the item undecided.
The City of Cody Planning and Zoning and Adjustment Board on Feb. 5 considered a request to rezone Lot 1 through 12 and the north 55 feet of Lots 15 and 16 in Block 14 (the 1400 block of Beck Avenue) from R-3 medium-density residential to a commercial designation, with applicants seeking D-2 but a majority-motion offered for D-1.
Property owner and applicant Sarah Skiffington told the board she and six co-applicants sought the change after receiving offers that could not be accommodated under the current R-3 rules. "The reality is that Beck Avenue west of 7th Street to 17th Street is no longer residential," Skiffington said, urging the board to allow owners "options and flexibility with our properties." Planning staff Jenny summarized the request and said seven of the nine properties on the south side of Beck Avenue joined the application and that the master plan designates the area as downtown mixed-use.
Board members focused much of the discussion on whether D-1 or D-2 better fits the corridor. Jenny explained that a D-2 designation permits any use allowed in D-1 and that D-1 lists many downtown-oriented uses (antique shops, barbershops, small retail, offices) while D-2 includes a broader set of commercial activities noted in the staff report. Several board members expressed concern that broader commercial zoning could allow higher-intensity uses—auto body work, storage units or drive-through and heavy-service activities—that might alter the character of the two historic residential blocks between 14th and 16th Streets.
The board also discussed process checks: larger commercial development typically requires lot consolidation and a site plan review and would be subject to architectural and landscape review in the downtown historic district. Chair noted that staff mailed notices to 32 properties and that 27 recipients did not submit comments; Chair said there was a single written objection among returned notices.
Board member Aaron moved to recommend approval of rezoning the identified lots to D-1 commercial; Dan seconded. The roll call produced three votes in favor and two opposed. Board members noted the board requires a majority of the full membership (four votes) to make a formal recommendation to city council, so the motion failed for lack of the required majority. The board discussed options including continuing the matter to a meeting with a full board or forwarding the item to city council without a Planning and Zoning recommendation; members noted a 15-day advertisement requirement for any future public hearing.
The item will proceed through the city's review process; board members discussed briefing council members on the range of concerns expressed at the hearing. The board then moved on to other business and adjourned.
