Osceola council sets July 2 public hearings on street vacations, site-plan and zoning changes

The Osceola City Council voted unanimously on June 18 to set a slate of public hearings for 7 p.m. on July 2 to consider several land-use items, including the proposed vacation of the 600 block of East Webster Street and the north/south alley in Block 2 of the McDonald’s Addition.

The council approved Resolution 2024-20 and Resolution 2024-21, directing the City Clerk to publish hearing notices as required by city rules. Council members also passed Resolution 2024-22 to open a hearing on proposed amendments to Chapter 167 addressing site-plan requirements, and Resolution 2024-23 to consider an amendment to the zoning ordinance to permit modular can-and-bottle redemption as a conditional use in B-1, B-2, B-3, I-1 and I-2 districts. Each motion carried on roll call votes with George Fotiadis, Dan Hooper, Thomas Bahls, Sonya Hicks and Jose Vargas recorded as voting aye.

The hearings will be part of the regularly scheduled council meeting on July 2; the resolutions direct the City Clerk to publish legal notices at least once and between 4 and 20 days before the hearing, as required. The items affect right-of-way and zoning rules that could alter property use in downtown and industrial-zoned areas.

The proposed zoning change to allow modular redemption centers would create a conditional-use pathway for can-and-bottle recycling facilities in multiple commercial and industrial districts; the site-plan amendments in Chapter 167 relate to how proposed developments would be reviewed and approved. The city did not take final action on any of these items on June 18 — the council set the hearings to gather public comment and further deliberation.

The council will hear public testimony and staff presentations on each item at the July 2 meeting before any final votes or ordinance amendments are adopted.