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Public hearing on commercial zoning prompts council request for maps; ordinance tabled
Summary
At a Feb. 18 public hearing on proposed commercial- and industrial-zone standards, residents and councilmembers sought clarity on where C-1/C-2/C-3 designations would apply. The council asked Planning & Zoning to draft maps and tabled Ordinance 02-2026 for further review.
The Big Water Municipal Town Council opened a public hearing Feb. 18 on proposed amendments to zoning code chapter 15, including new supplementary development standards for commercial and industrial zones. The council and a resident pressed for clearer mapping of proposed C-1, C-2 and C-3 designations before adoption.
Resident Russ Johnson asked what will change and requested the packet to review the ordinance changes covering permitted uses. Councilmember Jennie Lassen said it would be difficult to adopt the ordinance without a map showing which parcels would fall into each commercial zone. Denise Wood, Planning & Zoning administrator, told members the draft changes mainly clarify existing uses rather than changing allowed uses, but the council requested P&Z prepare a map and overlays to accompany Ordinance 02-2026.
Council members discussed differences among the proposed commercial zones: they indicated most existing commercial areas would likely map to the C-2 designation and that C-3 would be intended for government facilities. Members also raised the possibility of using conditional uses where appropriate; Denise said staff tries to limit conditional uses but will provide guidance.
Because of those outstanding mapping and clarity needs, the council tabled Ordinance 02-2026 and returned it to Planning & Zoning for redrafting with an accompanying map and overlay plan. The public hearing had been opened earlier in the meeting and closed before the regular session continued.
