Council hears rezoning to allow fire station on West Newton Road

Planning Director Heather Sailor said the city is proposing to rezone about 4.979 acres at 1215 West Newton Road so the property’s permitted uses align with a planned fire station. “Essentially the zoning change would provide uses more in line with the future use which would be a fire station,” Sailor said.

The change is before the City Council as ordinance 9340 and would amend the city’s zoning map by moving parcel B 0851040000006 from IE (innovation and employment) to I (industrial) zoning. Sailor told council the planning commission held the required public hearing on Jan. 7 and referred the request with a positive recommendation; staff also provided a positive recommendation.

Sailor outlined technical differences between the existing IE classification and the proposed institutional/industrial standards, including front- and side-setback requirements, maximum lot coverage (staff materials list a 70% maximum for one classification), and height limits. She noted that IE allows a broader set of uses than the institutional/I categories and provided the council with a handout comparing permitted and conditional uses and bulk standards.

The chair asked if there were questions from council or members of the public. A council member said, “Nope, nothing for me,” and the clerk confirmed no correspondence had been received; no members of the public spoke during the hearing. The chair closed the public hearing on ordinance 9340 with no petitioner testimony recorded.

The hearing record for ordinance 9340 will remain part of the city’s permanent record as the council considers next steps.