Committee backs zoning change to allow commercial entertainment in light-industrial districts

The Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee voted to recommend that the common council consider a zoning text amendment allowing indoor and outdoor commercial entertainment as an accessory use in the city's light-industrial zoning district.

Administrator Rindy, who summarized the item for the committee, said the planning commission has already recommended the change and that a public hearing at council would follow. Rindy explained the ordinance initially limited accessory entertainment uses to "15% of the total area or 10,000 square feet, whichever is less," but staff recommended a single limit of "25% of the total area." She said the 10,000-square-foot alternative was removed in the clean version: "we removed the 10,000, just 25% altogether."

Committee members noted the change was prompted in part by an existing business, Minhas, which operates a small pizzeria and was discovered to be out of compliance with the current zoning. Rindy said that operation likely predated the zoning code and would be treated as a legal nonconforming use; if the code is changed the business would need to come into compliance.

A motion to forward the amendment to the common council for further consideration was made and seconded; the clerk called the roll and recorded all members present as voting "aye," and the committee approved recommending the ordinance change. The amendment will go to the common council for an additional public hearing before any final adoption.