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Council tables Marietta rezoning to Urban Business amid spot-zoning and neighborhood concerns
Summary
A request to rezone 3.34 acres at 307 Bower Street from R3 to Urban Business prompted council debate about spot zoning, traffic and allowed UB uses; owner Larry Marietta said he would consider agreed restrictions and council voted to table the item to the next meeting to pursue conditional language.
The council considered a rezoning application to reclassify about 3.34 acres at 307 Bower Street from residential (R3) to Urban Business. Staff described the plan-commission recommendation but noted a condition: the site must not be used as a standalone parking lot. Councilmembers and neighbors debated whether changing zoning in a single parcel constituted spot zoning and whether the Urban Business (UB) allowed-use list is appropriate in a primarily residential pocket.
Several councilmembers said UB contains uses they find appropriate near Main Street but worry specific UB-permitted uses (liquor stores, transportation terminals, certain retail) could be incompatible with small side streets and could set a precedent for additional rezones. Owner Larry Marietta said he was open to discussing restrictions on particular UB uses that concern council if the town and owner can agree.
Council voted to table the rezoning to the next council meeting to allow staff and the property owner to discuss possible restrictions and to give the council time to consider a narrower approach (for example, special exceptions or tailored allowed uses). The motion to table carried 5-0.
