City planning and zoning commission members unanimously approved the rezoning of two properties during a brief, eight-minute meeting on Tuesday.
Carl and Roger Holley applied for a rezoning development permit for two lots -- a 0.41 acre tract and a 1.64 acre tract -- both located at 519 S. Hico St. The permit would change the zoning from R-3 (residential, two family) to R-4 (residential, multifamily).
Ben Rhoads, senior planner, explained that the two lots would likely be combined into one upon development of the property. The site is currently undeveloped and is located in an industrial area with housing to the south and an office building to the west, he said.
Abundant trees at the border of the property act as a natural visual buffer to the residential properties to the south Rhoads said. A future land use map designates the property as industrial, however upon examination the city staff believes the high density residential zone fits within the neighborhood context, he said. Infrastructure in the area also appears to be sufficient to handle a multifamily development, he said.
"The city is in need of multifamily housing and due to the small lot sizes, large scale industrial users would not likely be feasible in this particular property," Rhoads said.
Rhoads said the permit would allow single family housing, a duplex, a triplex or an apartment complex. The city has yet to receive any development plans, but it appears that the site will support a maximum of 32 apartment units, he said.
Rhoads reported that city staff recommends approval of the permit with no conditions.
The second item on the agenda was an application from Mark Alexander for a rezoning development permit for Lot 13 and the south half of Lot 14, Block 1 of the College Addition, located at 855 S. Wright St.
Alexander applied to rezone the 0.22 acre piece of property from R-2 (Residential, medium) to R3 (Residential, two-family) in order to develop a duplex. The site is located just east of Southside Elementary School, Rhoads said.
Civil engineer Ron Homeyer reported that Alexander plans to build a duplex on the property, similar to the existing one next door. The duplex will fit within the setbacks and the building area, he said.
The property is currently vacant, Rhoads said. The future land use map describes this area as mixed use and the proposed zone fits within that designation, he said
City staff recommended the permit be granted, but because the site is sitting on two lots, staff requested the lots be consolidated before the rezoning development permit receives approval from the city board, Rhoads said. The consolidation permit was turned in last week and is presently under staff review. It will be presented at the next planning commission meeting, he said.
Both items will go before the city board on May 1.
General News on 04/15/2018