Stillwater council approves three rezonings for housing, ‘missing‑middle’ and a training center

The Stillwater City Council on April 6 approved three separate map amendments to rezone vacant parcels for housing and commercial uses, moving forward developments that city staff said align with the comprehensive plan.

Development Services staff member Henry Bbleheimimer introduced the first request, CC‑26‑56, to rezone 3398 North Jardo Road from General Industrial (IG) to RSS (small‑lot single‑family). He said the north tract is about 36.9 acres and that the applicant’s preliminary layout would yield 98 lots — roughly 2.6 dwelling units per acre, which staff characterized as the low end of the comp plan’s “moderate density” category. "The north portion is about 36.9 acres," the applicant’s representative, Caleb Smith of Craft and Toll, told the council. "We have a layout that has 98 lots and that comes out to about 2.6 dwelling units per acre." After questions about buffering from adjacent industrial uses and internal landscape screening, council voted 5–0 to approve the map amendment following a March 3 planning commission recommendation.

The council then considered CC‑26‑57, the southern portion of the same development at 3020 North Jardo Road, proposed for RTM (residential two‑family/multifamily). Staff described the tract as roughly 20.2 acres with an estimated gross density of about 10.81 dwelling units per acre, placing it within the city’s target for missing‑middle housing. Councilors asked about lot lines and future platting; Henry said the applicant created the two lots through a minor subdivision process to align with the developer’s planned preliminary plat. The planning commission recommended approval on March 3, and council approved the map amendment by a 5–0 vote.

In a separate public hearing, staff presented CC‑26‑58, a proposal to rezone 3621 and 3605 North Prosperity Lane from General Industrial to CS (commercial shopping). Staff said the mixed‑use future land use designation makes neighborhood‑serving commercial appropriate, and noted that an "educational facility" — described by a representative for Radian Technology Center — is the intended use. A representative told the council the company purchased the land to establish a training facility but discovered educational uses were not allowed under the current IG zoning, prompting the rezoning request. Planning commission recommended approval March 24; the council approved CC‑26‑58, also 5–0.

All three rezoning motions were followed by ordinances advanced to second reading (Ordinances 3595, 3596 and 3599). Councilors and staff emphasized the need for housing and the city’s interest in filling vacant industrial parcels with development that meets comp‑plan guidance. The council’s unanimous votes concluded the hearings; final ordinance adoption will occur at a subsequent meeting for the items advanced to second reading.