Council approves conditional‑use permit for West Main liquor store; rezone request fails

The council approved a conditional‑use permit (CUP) for a proposed liquor store at 4409 West Main Street but voted down a rezone request to allow construction of a duplex near S 8th Avenue and Main Street.

Community Development staff (Mister Cottrell) reviewed the CUP request and explained the item had been tabled by the Planning and Zoning Commission because the applicant had not completed necessary licensing steps. Cottrell said the city would not issue a certificate of occupancy until the applicant satisfied licensing requirements; a staff member noted the applicant’s proposed business sits in a zoning district that still requires a CUP even if the zoning would otherwise permit it.

The council discussed the timing and process for liquor licensing (state statute controls licensing and hours) and whether the applicant should expend funds before securing state approval. One councilor noted that planning and zoning had recommended denial previously because the applicant had not completed the licensing paperwork; another councilor said approval of the CUP would allow the applicant to proceed with licensing steps.

On the separate rezone request (ordinance O2026‑02) to change a parcel from Commercial C‑3 to R‑2 to allow duplex construction, planning staff said the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval 3–1. Councilors debated whether approving the rezone would conflict with the city’s future land‑use map and whether allowing spot rezoning would foreclose commercial redevelopment. The roll‑call vote failed (two yes, three no), so the rezone did not pass.

Council approved the conditional‑use permit on a motion and second; the record shows the rezone failed on recorded roll‑call votes (Council member Miller and Mayor Tucker voted yes; Council members Morrison, Shear and Vice Mayor Similescu voted no).