Council amends development code, approves med‑spa special use and rezoning to R‑50

The Duluth City Mayor and Council on June 8 approved changes to the Unified Development Code and granted two separate land‑use actions affecting commercial and residential parcels.

Community Development & Engineering Director Margie Pozin presented a text amendment (TA2026‑003) to Article 2, Table 2‑C of the Unified Development Code to permit a medical office to be allowed in the M‑1 (Light Industrial) zoning district by special use permit. Pozin said allowing the use via special use permits ensures neighbor notice, staff review of surrounding uses and gives council authority to impose conditions. The council approved ordinance O2026‑22 on the Planning Commission’s and staff’s recommendation.

Following that change, the council considered a special use application (SU2026‑001) from R and H General Services, LLC, represented by applicant‑owners Rosibel Gonzalez Carpinone and Henry Leo, to operate a med spa/medical office at 4319 Abbotts Bridge Road, Building 3 Suite 5. Staff reported the parcel totals approximately 4.5 acres, the suite is about 1,875 square feet, and the site has 136 parking spaces overall; the clinic would require nine parking spaces. The application listed proposed services (weight‑loss programs, IV therapy, facials, Botox, microneedling) and proposed hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Planning Commission and staff recommended approval; the council approved O2026‑23 with conditions. Applicants described the business as a “small‑scale outpatient medical office” that would operate by appointment only and be supervised by a physician.

Separately, the council considered a rezoning request (Z2026‑002) for 3639 Rogers Bridge Road from O‑I (Office‑Institutional) to residential. Pozin said the 0.52‑acre parcel is a tight fit for O‑I uses and staff and the Planning Commission recommended R‑50 (rather than the requested R‑100) to provide flexibility for building a single‑family residence; the council approved ordinance O2026‑24 rezoning the lot to R‑50.

Why it matters: the text amendment changes the city’s permitted‑use framework in M‑1 zones by enabling medical offices to be evaluated through site‑specific special use permits, giving neighbors and council greater review authority. The med‑spa approval adds a health/retail service to the River Green Employment District and the rezoning alters the development expectations for the Rogers Bridge parcel.

Next steps: community development staff will monitor condition compliance for the special use and proceed with any permitting steps for the med spa; zoning records will be updated to reflect the R‑50 designation for the Rogers Bridge property.