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Council waives readings, rezones Kentucky Ridge property to fast-track prospective grocer
Summary
The Indianola City Council voted 4–1 on July 6 to rezone Kentucky Ridge Commercial Plat 1 from PUD back to C2 and waived the second and third readings at the meeting to accommodate a prospective grocer’s due-diligence timeline, prompting some council members to warn about precedent and transparency.
The Indianola City Council voted 4–1 on July 6 to rezone the Kentucky Ridge Commercial Plat 1 from a planned unit development (PUD) designation back to C2 Highway Commercial and to waive the second and third readings so the ordinance could be adopted immediately.
Bryce, a city planning staff member who presented the request, said the landowner, Inception Group LLC, is reverting the site to C2 to support commercial uses and that the owner asked for waiver of extra readings to meet a prospective National Grocer’s due-diligence timeline. "They’re requesting final approval due to the National Grocers due diligence timeline," Bryce told the council during the public hearing.
The council opened a public hearing and asked for public comment; none was offered. After discussion about process, Council member Josh (transcript speaker 11) said he was concerned about precedent: "I just wanna make sure that we're thinking through waving both of them … I’m generally more comfortable with reading the 2nd time and waiving the 3rd," he said, noting the value of giving the public another opportunity to comment.
Council supporters said the request largely reverts the property to its original zone and would not expand intensity beyond prior approvals. After debate, Motion by Soans, second by Armstrong, to waive the second and third readings and adopt the ordinance carried by roll call 4–1 (ayes recorded; one no vote). The motion record on the transcript shows the clerk calling the roll and the mayor declaring the motion carried.
Why it matters: Rezoning and waiving additional readings allowed the developer to move forward with site approvals on an expedited timetable tied to a prospective tenant’s due diligence. Opponents raised concerns that routinely waiving second readings could limit public opportunity for comment.
What’s next: The ordinance language and the council’s waiver were approved as part of this meeting’s actions; the council record indicates staff and planning will proceed with the administrative steps tied to the rezoning and any related site approvals.
(Reporting note: quotes and attributions come from the July 6 council meeting transcript.)
