Staff backs rezoning of three College Street lots to R‑2; public hearing set for June 16

Planning staff recommended that the City Council consider rezoning three vacant parcels on College Street (City Lots #5049–5051; addresses 796, 812 and 826) from R‑1/College Street Gateway to the R‑2 Residential District and has forwarded a recommendation and materials for a public hearing.

The application, filed by Evan Gasser of Gasser Builders, proposes a site plan for a 15‑unit residential development if the zoning change is approved; the lots are owned by AAACK LTD and the packet includes an owner authorization letter. Planning staff described the properties as only accessible from College Street, totaling roughly 2.7–2.8 acres (site acreage flagged as subject to final survey), and recommended the amendment to allow appropriate infill for the College Street corridor. The Planning Commission packet notes the applicant would return with a site plan for duplex‑oriented housing if the rezoning is granted.

Staff highlighted infrastructure and layout constraints that affect feasible development. The staff report states that "to provide sanitary service to a fee‑simple subdivision would require the construction of not less than 500 linear feet of new sewer and even in a 'best‑case' scenario, the site will only yield about 8 development sites," a point the report uses to justify an attached/residential approach under R‑2 zoning rather than R‑1 fee‑simple lots.

The Committee packet sets a public hearing at the Council meeting on June 16, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers. The next formal step for the applicant is to present a detailed site plan to the Planning Commission and, if recommended, to Council for final action.