Commission recommends rezoning to subdivide agricultural parcel on West Center Street

The Planning Commission voted 6-1 on Aug. 27 to recommend that the Municipal Council rezone a parcel at 2850 West Center Street from A-1.1 agricultural to R-1.7 to permit a four-lot residential subdivision.

Development Services presenter Aaron (staff) explained the site sits amid a mix of older agricultural zoning and several R-1 designations. He said the general plan designates the area as residential and staff believed the proposed R-1.7 lots would “match the area, the character of the area” while accommodating an existing house the applicant intends to keep. Aaron told the commission the subdivision’s lot-width layout required R-1.7 because retaining the existing home constrained lot widths; R-1.8 would not be achievable without variances.

A neighbor who spoke at the hearing, Brandon Veil, said he lives adjacent to the site and suggested rezoning a larger contiguous area might better reflect existing parcel sizes; he noted several nearby parcels do not meet a one-acre requirement shown by current zoning. The commission discussed whether the applicant’s absence at the hearing was cause to delay; staff said the applicant had also not attended the neighborhood meeting and that continuing the item to re-advertise would delay the property owner and could require an additional fee.

During debate, members asked whether Lot 1 could be subdivided further; staff said it would not meet the R-1.7 minimum and would therefore not be subdividable under current lot sizes. Commissioners also discussed an existing park-strip and mature trees along 2830 West that the developer proposed to retain and, after approval, to transfer maintenance responsibility to individual lot owners.

Commissioner concerns produced a 6-to-1 vote in favor; one commissioner voted nay and said the absence of an applicant to answer questions and the possibility of coordinating a larger rezone of adjacent parcels contributed to the negative vote. The commission’s recommendation will go to the Municipal Council for final action.