Commission recommends denial of rezoning to multifamily for small College Main lot

Planning staff told commissioners the applicant sought to rezone a 0.148-acre parcel on College Main Street from Midtown High Density District to Multifamily Residential to accommodate an apartment building, but staff concluded the change would amount to spot zoning and conflict with the Midtown area plan. "Staff does recommend denial of the proposed rezoning," planner Michaela Dickinson said, noting the Midtown district carries a 1.5 floor-to-area ratio minimum that makes small-lot development challenging.

Applicant representative Glenn Jones of J4 Engineering described a six-unit concept for a 50-by-100 lot and said the project could meet the 1.5 ratio only by using a zero-lot-line design that would eliminate wall penetrations (windows) and raise livability and safety concerns. Commissioners debated whether to hold to the Midtown zoning directive — enacted in 2021 — or allow a localized exception; several said they favored continuing the Midtown plan while encouraging the applicant to pursue a planned-development (PD) approach. A motion to recommend denial to Bryan City Council carried unanimously.