Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council adopts rezoning, variance and zoning-text amendment; tourism contract approved
Summary
At its Sept. meeting the Saint Joseph City Council adopted a rezoning for 17 2nd Ave NW, approved a variance at 31897 Cedar Ridge Road, amended zoning text to allow limited minor vehicle sales, and approved a tourism coordinator contract for Mary Bruno; all motions passed by voice vote.
The Saint Joseph City Council approved several land-use actions and a personnel contract in a string of motions taken after public hearings and staff presentations.
Planning staff presented a rezoning petition submitted by property owner Mark Martini to change 17 2nd Avenue NW from R3 multifamily to B1 Central Business District to address existing asphalt milling and allow greater impervious coverage consistent with the comprehensive plan. The council adopted the findings resolution (2025-0045) and ordinance (2025-0008) to rezone the parcel.
The council also approved a variance for Randon and Tracy Eich at 31897 Cedar Ridge Road to allow an accessory building peak height of 26 feet—6 feet above the 20-foot standard—citing compatibility with the house and improved snow-load/drainage considerations; the findings resolution (2025-0046) passed by voice vote.
Separately, the council approved a zoning-text amendment to permit limited "minor vehicle sales" as a conditional use in the light industrial district with parameters from the staff report (maximum lot size 2.5 acres, no more than five vehicles on site, indoor sales and storage only). Planning Commission recommended approval; council passed the ordinance amendment (2025-0009) and the summary publication motion (2025-047). Business owner Bob Ethan spoke in favor of the change and said he will not display vehicles outside and will transfer his dealer license as part of a sale.
Finally, the council approved a formal contract to define services and increase the stipend for Mary Bruno, the tourism coordinator associated with the Convention and Visitors Bureau, raising her total stipend from $9,000 to $14,400 with the EDA covering $5,400 of the increase from its professional-services budget.
All listed motions were adopted by voice vote. The actions alter zoning allowances for one downtown parcel, grant a site-specific variance, expand conditional uses in the light industrial district under defined limits, and formalize and modestly increase support for the city’s tourism coordinator.
