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Council hearing on setback amendment ends with planning commission denial; council takes no action
Summary
A proposed change to Mount Vernon's zoning bulk regulations to increase a 10-foot setback to 15 feet for certain houses was recommended for denial by the Planning and Zoning Commission (4–1); the council held a public hearing and did not move to approve the amendment, allowing the proposal to die for lack of motion.
Mount Vernon's City Council opened a public hearing Feb. 18 on an amendment to Chapter 44 of the zoning code that would have increased the setback for a particular category (referred to in staff notes as 'stout houses') from 10 feet to 15 feet.
Staff told the council the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended denial by a 4–1 vote. "The amendment was actually recommended for denial," staff said, and explained the request originated with a single developer but that, if adopted, the change would apply to all developers in the code.
Council discussion focused on the procedural options: the council could make a motion to approve and then vote against it to be on record as opposing the change, or allow the item to die for a lack of motion. No motion to approve was made and the council closed the public hearing at 6:35 p.m., moving on to subsequent agenda items.
Why it matters: zoning text amendments apply to the district as a whole and can change future development outcomes. Planning staff emphasized the limited origins of the request (one developer) and the commission's recommendation against adoption.
Next steps: because the council did not move the ordinance forward, the proposed text amendment will not advance at this meeting; proponents could return the item in the future with revised language or new supporting information.
