City planners recommend rezoning Everest facility parcel to institutional to align with city services

City planners recommended that a 13.38-acre parcel at 2501 Southeast 17th Avenue be rezoned from Commercial to Institutional so the zoning aligns with existing city services located there.

"The intent is to take this from the commercial designation to the institutional designation," Senior Planner Anthony Santoro told the hearing examiner, explaining the rezoning would allow lot consolidation with the adjacent Everest water-treatment facility and relieve existing site inconsistencies affecting setbacks and future service expansion.

Santoro reviewed the parcel’s zoning history and analyzed the request against the six land-development-code criteria and relevant comprehensive-plan policies (including policy 1.15 on public facilities). He said institutional zoning best matches the property’s existing public-facility uses, supports future expansion of city services, and allows development intensity consistent with public-facility objectives.

Santoro also said police and fire reviewed the request and found little to minor operational impact from the rezoning. He reported no written public opposition had been received prior to the hearing and asked to incorporate his staff report into the record.

The hearing examiner recommended the rezone be forwarded as requested by staff, noting that companion future-land-use amendments must be adopted where applicable. The examiner closed the hearings and set the next hearing date as July 21, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in Council Chambers; no City Council vote took place at this hearing.

Speakers quoted or cited in this report: Anthony Santoro, Senior Planner; Hearing Examiner.