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Council turns down fast‑track for Amazon 'hub' zoning change; requests joint PNZ work session
Summary
After a divided exchange, the council voted unanimously to decline setting a public hearing on Planning & Zoning's recommendation to amend C3 zoning for last‑mile delivery facilities and asked for a joint work session with PNZ and historic preservation to craft an overlay and downtown‑specific guidance.
Council considered a Planning & Zoning recommendation to amend Title 17 (C3 zoning) to allow last‑mile delivery facilities (commonly described as Amazon Hubs). Several councilmembers objected to setting a public hearing on the proposed code change without first holding a joint work session with Planning & Zoning (PNZ) and reviewing a downtown overlay that would narrow where such hubs could be sited.
Councilmembers expressed concern about letting conditional approvals or code changes proceed without clear downtown‑specific criteria. "I don't want to vote on the C3 change without an overlay of the downtown district first," one member said, arguing that downtown context should be considered before making code changes that affect commercial areas.
On a motion to set a public hearing for the zoning amendment, the council voted unanimously to decline, and councilmembers instructed staff to schedule a joint PNZ/council work session so members can hear PNZ's analysis and refine objectives together. Staff noted PNZ will be discussing C3 district matters at its next meeting and that a joint session could be arranged to expedite discussion.
What's next: The council asked staff to arrange a joint PNZ/council work session to consider overlay options and downtown specificity before placing a public hearing on an amended ordinance.
