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Washington Terrace planning commission approves rezoning to allow veterans cemetery at 5800 South Adams Avenue
Summary
The planning commission voted to rezone 5800 South Adams Avenue from commercial and single-family residential to open-space zoning to allow a state-run veterans cemetery; staff said the parcel is owned and will be run by state agencies, with the city limited to providing utilities.
The Washington Terrace planning commission voted to rezone a parcel at 5800 South Adams Avenue to O-1 open space to allow construction of a state-run veterans cemetery.
Tyler, a city planning staff member, told the commission the site is steep and largely unsuitable for houses under current zoning and that the state — through Veterans Affairs and the Division of Facilities Construction and Management (DFCM) — owns the land and will oversee geotechnical and hazardous assessments and construction. "This will be a state project...for a veteran cemetery," Tyler said, adding that most project controls and assessments are state-run and the city’s main role will be to provide utilities.
The commission opened a public hearing on the proposed amendment to Chapter 17.30.20 (zoning as it relates to cemeteries). Joshua Koskin, a veteran who spoke during public comment, said he supported the project and described the state’s funding and land-acquisition process: "In full support as a veteran," Koskin said.
After public comment, a commissioner moved to approve the amendment and change zoning at 5800 South Adams from C-1 and R-1-10 to O-1 open space to allow the veterans cemetery; the motion was seconded and approved by general voice vote with no recorded opposition. The commission did not impose local construction controls for the cemetery itself, noting that DFCM will handle structural approvals and that the city can offer suggestions through the Development Review Committee, such as trail connections to improve community access.
City staff and commissioners discussed access and site constraints during the presentation: Tyler said 5700 South is a cul-de-sac and that utilities will connect from Adams, and he noted the parcel’s steep slope and potential need for retaining work. He described the cemetery as likely to include veteran-specific features and said it may be the third such cemetery in the state and among the larger ones, a characterization he prefaced with uncertainty.
The commission’s approval sends the zoning amendment to the next steps required by local procedure. The record of the meeting indicates the city’s role will be limited to utilities and local permitting where applicable; the state agencies named in the presentation will lead site assessment and construction.
