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Staff proposes allowing additional light-manufacturing uses in M1 zoning; commission to hold public hearing
Summary
Staff presented a proposal to permit certain light-manufacturing uses (including some transportation-equipment assembly categories) in the M1 district rather than requiring M2 rezoning or special-use permits; commissioners debated potential unintended consequences and agreed to a public hearing on a text amendment.
Planning staff outlined a proposed text amendment to permit additional light-manufacturing uses in M1 zoning in order to make small-scale advanced-manufacturing sites more feasible without rezoning to M2.
A staff speaker reviewed NAICS classifications and noted that many modern advanced-manufacturing activities (for example, transportation-equipment assembly and certain electronic-product manufacturing) can be largely contained indoors with limited outdoor storage or emissions. "I think it's appropriate, to allow those in the m 1 industry, by right," the staff member said, arguing the change would attract employers to Astra Enterprise Park and similar industrial areas without rezoning large land parcels to M2.
Commissioners discussed the trade-offs: allowing more uses in M1 could invite heavier or more intensive uses unless specific subcategories are excluded, and some members urged retaining special-use review for categories that involve outdoor storage, hazardous materials or significant external impacts. Commissioners asked staff to prepare a draft amendment showing precisely which NAICS subcategories would move from special-use to permitted status and to propose explicit exclusions where warranted.
By consensus, the commission agreed to schedule a public hearing on the proposed text amendment so the policy can be considered with formal notice and public comment.
