Planning commission recommends code changes to permit new commercial uses in Zone D and streamline CUPs

The commission voted to recommend to the city council a package of zoning amendments affecting Zone D commercial parcels (primarily Highland and Grand avenues). Staff proposed adding 17 permitted commercial uses (including small retail, barber/beauty, bookstores, photography studios, fitness classes, and restaurants/cafes) accompanied by discrete performance standards for hours, outdoor activities and loading.

The draft also revises the conditional‑use‑permit process: the planning commission would be the approving body with appeals to council; objective standards would be used to differentiate residential and commercial CUP findings; and staff would be authorized to approve minor modifications (physical expansions up to 10% cumulative, relocations within a building, or a 25% change in employees/hours).

Staff emphasized that most Zone D uses would still have to meet existing Zone D parking rules; only bakeries and florists are proposed to be exempt from on‑site parking requirements to encourage quick in‑and‑out uses. Staff also noted mechanical noise must meet the building code limit (50 dBA) as an objective standard. One resident at the hearing asked for clearer plain‑language notices about potential parking impacts.

"The intent was these users are typically those where people do not spend a lot of time in," staff said in explaining why bakeries and florists were treated differently than restaurants. The commission voted unanimously to recommend the ordinance amendments to council; council is tentatively scheduled to hear the ordinance first reading in mid‑September.