The Paris City Council on Monday approved a slate of zoning and land-use measures, including rezones, a comprehensive-plan amendment, and text amendments that add classifications for recycling operations and indoor shooting ranges.

City staff told the council that the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval for the items before the council. Council approved each ordinance by recorded voice vote; the clerk announced repeated outcomes as “motion carries 7-0.”

The measures passed affect individual properties and the city’s zoning ordinance. Council approved rezoning petitions to allow conversion of existing residences to medical office or commercial uses, a comprehensive-plan amendment and related rezoning to heavy industrial for property on Northwest Loop 286, and a zoning text amendment to add a definition and classification for recycling transfer stations, recycling processing facilities and an indoor shooting range so those uses can be considered through the city’s permit process.

Votes at a glance
- Agenda item 12: Ordinance on petition of Ashfaq and Alifa Tapia on behalf of Lynn Van Swearingen to rezone property (Block 319 Lot 2 A7 West Askins survey and related parcels) from Agricultural (A) to General Retail (GR) to allow conversion of a residential structure to a medical office. Outcome: approved, vote 7-0.
- Agenda item 13: Specific Use Permit (SUP) petition for a single-family home in a Neighborhood Service district at 116 NE 10th Street; P&Z recommended approval. Outcome: approved, vote 7-0.
- Agenda item 14: Rezoning petition of Chris Klein / Saul Goodman Properties LLC to change a Planned Development (PD) parcel to Commercial (C) in Primrose Village; applicant said he will replace a damaged fence and combine lots for a single tax bill. Outcome: approved, vote 7-0.
- Agenda item 15: Comprehensive plan amendment petition by 1995 Investments LLC to change future land use from Manufactured Housing and Light Industrial to Heavy Industrial for land at 1540–1590 NW Loop 286; P&Z recommended approval. Outcome: approved, vote 7-0.
- Agenda item 16: Zoning change petition by 1995 Investments LLC to rezone parcels at 1540–1590 NW Loop 286 from Agricultural/Light Industrial to Heavy Industrial (to permit offices, tracking/maintenance, storage/warehouse and a potential future concrete batching plant). Outcome: approved, vote 7-0.
- Agenda item 17A: Text amendment to add a zoning classification and definition for a recycling transfer station consistent with Resolution No. 2015-009. Outcome: approved, vote 7-0.
- Agenda item 17B: Text amendment to add a classification for a recycling processing facility (separate from a transfer station). Staff said an investor had expressed interest in a local facility; council discussed potential siting near the fairgrounds and trail and confirmed that specific sites will be reviewed later under SUP/site selection. Outcome: approved, vote 7-0.
- Agenda item 17C: Text amendment to add an unlisted-use classification for an indoor shooting range (the council declined to add outdoor shooting at this time). Outcome: approved, vote 7-0.
- Agenda item 20: Ordinance authorizing the finance director to transfer unencumbered funds among departments to cover departments expected to overexpend original budget appropriations (annual housekeeping transfer). Outcome: approved, vote 7-0.
- Agenda items 21 & 22: Items requiring legal consultation (scheduled for executive session) were tabled until the next meeting because city attorney Stephanie Harris was unavailable. Outcome: tabled to next meeting, unanimous procedural motion.

Council and staff did not debate every item at length; several items were introduced by staff, the public hearings were opened and closed with no public speakers on those matters, and council moved to vote after a short opportunity for comment. Where applicants spoke, council recorded their remarks into the public record: Chris Klein, the applicant for agenda item 14, said he owns the 0.11-acre lot and is arranging fence repairs through Emerson Fence Company and that the lot combination was intended to reduce the number of separate tax bills.

The zoning text amendments for recycling facilities drew more substantive council discussion about potential siting. Staff said the city currently lacks an explicit ordinance definition for certain recycling uses, and the text changes will allow those uses to be treated as SUPs in light- and heavy-industrial zones so they must return to Planning and Zoning and council for site-specific review and public hearing.

Council approved every ordinance and transfer on the consent or regular agenda by the end of the meeting; no item listed here failed.

Ending
The ordinances will take effect according to their posted effective dates. Properties and prospective applicants affected by the new classifications must pursue the required site- and use-specific reviews (SUP or rezoning) before development or processing operations commence.