Plan Commission forwards rezoning of 608 South Main Street to council, conditioned on proof of parking

The Auburn Plan Commission voted July 14 to forward a rezoning request for 608 South Main Street to the City Council with a favorable recommendation, provided the applicant proves that required off-street parking can be fit on the lot.

The commission opened a public hearing on PC Zoning 2026-005 and heard a staff report describing the request to reclassify the property from Traditional Residential to Institutional. The building and planning administrator told the commission the proposed designation is consistent with the Auburn 2040 future land use plan and recommended a favorable recommendation to the council.

Members repeatedly questioned whether the conceptual parking shown on the applicant’s plan could be physically accommodated behind the building. Staff said required parking will be determined at time of occupancy and noted that institutional uses require off-street parking. A staff/planner reference to the Unified Development/Land standards (UDL 5.58) was cited during discussion: “one space per 300 square feet of floor area,” which for the reported 912-square-foot building equates to three required spaces; the conceptual drawing shown to the commission indicated four spaces plus one handicapped stall.

An applicant who identified herself as Carrie Goebel, of 802 Allison Boulevard, said most realtors work remotely and that on-site employees would be few, adding that the rendering displayed was an AI-generated concept that may not reflect the final design. “Realtors don’t come to the office — at most five might be there at once,” she said.

Commissioners discussed procedural options — tabling to allow submittal of scale drawings, forwarding without recommendation, forwarding unfavorable, or forwarding favorable with conditions — and added a written condition to the staff report requiring proof that the physical application of the parking spaces is possible on the lot. The commission then voted by voice to forward the rezoning to the City Council with a favorable recommendation contingent on that condition. The chair said the council will consider the item on August 4.

The record does not include a roll-call tally of the vote; the action was decided by voice vote and recorded as carried.

What happens next: the item will appear before the City Council on Aug. 4; commissioners asked the applicant to return with to-scale site or plot drawings showing actual parking layouts if the applicant seeks a favorable recommendation without further delay.