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Commission backs rezoning at 2520 Maculom despite neighbors concerns about parking and pedestrian safety
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Summary
The commission recommended approval of a rezoning and IDZ site amendment at 2520 Maculom to allow a commercial use and site modifications; neighbors testified that the change would worsen parking and endanger pedestrians, and commissioners required that parking/site-plan details be addressed in the Council transmittal.
The Zoning Commission recommended approval of a rezoning request at 2520 Maculom (agenda item 3) after a contested public hearing in which neighbors urged denial or stronger conditions. Planner Alexa Retana described the requested change (IDZ/IDZ-1 amendment and site-plan amendment) and said staff recommended approval with the proposed site plan and an IDZ amendment to accommodate an electrical/fuse-box relocation necessary for the applicants project.
Applicant John Alfonner said the change is needed to make a small electrical/infrastructure adjustment and to preserve existing parking arrangements that currently rely on an off-site agreement. He told commissioners the proposed hours are limited and the change was not intended to increase late-night activity.
Multiple neighbors opposed the rezoning at the podium. Andrea Garza, who identified herself as a Mayfair neighborhood board member, said the block already lacks adequate parking and has limited pedestrian crossings. "Estoy aqui para expresar mi oposicin del cambio de zonificacin..." she said, urging commissioners to require binding parking provisions. Other residents echoed concerns about visibility, emergency access and increased night-time traffic; several said the association had not been adequately contacted despite staff notices.
Commissioner questioning focused on whether the parcel could be rezoned separately from the adjacent lot (so that required parking for existing units would remain protected) and whether an enforceable off-site parking agreement could be conditioned in the approval. Staff confirmed the IDZ mechanism is intended to provide flexibility and that the site plan (and any agreement) would be part of the transmittal to City Council. Staff also referenced a 10-space site parking expectation tied to the IDZ approach and cautioned that future owners would need to demonstrate required parking or obtain a new agreement.
After discussion and an amendment offered on the floor, the commission voted to recommend approval of the rezoning as amended. The recommendation will be forwarded to City Council; the applicant and staff were reminded to include the site plan and any parking agreement in the Council packet.
Next steps: The applicant has up to six months to present the case to City Council; neighbors retain the opportunity to speak at Council. Staff will note the parking requirement in the transmittal and applicants should be prepared to provide an enforceable parking agreement or a revised site plan when the case goes to Council.
