Planning commission members voted 6-1 on Tuesday to approve a rezoning development permit for the Melgar Apartments, located at 620 E. Arkansas Highway 16.

Owner Lisandro Melgar applied to change the zoning code from C-2 (Roadway commercial) to R-4 (Residential, multi-family). Melgar has indicated he is interested in adding additional units to the property, which prompted the rezoning request, since the current zoning code is legally non-conforming, according to Ben Rhoads, senior planner for the city.

"The R4 zone is the appropriate zone for multifamily housing," Rhoads said.

City staff recommended approving the application without any conditions, he said.

Commission chair Judy Nation noted the applicant did not attend the meeting to answer any questions.

Commission members John Engle, Nation, Kolin Blakely, Ted Song, Jerrod Driscoll and Todd Colvin voted in favor of rezoning the property. Commission member Karl Mounger voted against the measure.

"I just don't like people to apply for things and not show up so we can ask them questions about what they're going to do, what they're going to put on there," said Mounger. "I think if they are going to apply for something, they at least need to make an effort to be here."

The rezoning development permit will go before the city board on June 5.

In other business, Rhoads gave the commission a report about a staff approved lot consolidation permit for 855 S. Wright St.

Mark Alexander applied for a rezoning development permit for Lot 13 and the south half of Lot 14, Block 1 of the College Addition to change the zone from R-2 (Residential, medium) to R-3 (Residential, two family) in order to build a duplex on the property. The application was approved by the planning and zoning commission at their April 10 meeting and the first reading of Ordinance 18-09 was approved by the city board on May 1.

Rhoads said the lot consolidation was a condition of the rezoning because the lot size was not large enough for the R-3 zone.