Clayton council approves conditional rezoning on Gateway Drive to allow office and retail

The Clayton Town Council voted to adopt Ordinance 2025-5101 on a type 1 conditional rezoning that changes a 1.77-acre parcel on the north side of Gateway Drive from OFI (office/institutional) to CCC (conditional commercial).

Robert Tate, senior planner for the Town of Clayton, told the council the application (project number 202515CZ) requests a type 1 conditional rezoning. "A type 1 conditional rezoning essentially establishes a limited use," Tate said, adding that the request does not include a concept plan and that the applicant may provide only a list of allowed or prohibited uses as conditions.

Tate said the change is consistent with the town’s future land use map, which designates the site as an employment center that encourages limited nonresidential uses. He told the council staff recommends approval and noted the planning board recommended approval in August.

An applicant representative described the planned uses as small office and retail units, saying the proposal would provide "office retail for small businesses about, like, 1,200 square foot each unit." Council member Casey asked for clarification on residential uses: "So there's no residential aspect associated with this?" Tate confirmed that the proposed conditions would prohibit residential and multifamily uses in the CCC district for this parcel.

Council members moved to adopt the ordinance with the accompanying statement of consistency and reasonableness from the motion sheet. A second was made, the mayor called for the voice vote and the motion carried. The record shows a voice vote; no roll-call tally was provided in the meeting transcript.

The rezoning establishes a list of prohibited primary and secondary uses as part of the CCC conditions. Tate read examples from the prohibited list, including "equestrian facility, tobacco sales wholesale indoor, and park-and-ride facilities," and said other typical town conditions would also apply. The staff presentation emphasized that the type 1 conditional rezoning limits the applicant to the uses listed in the conditions and does not permit additional site-specific conditions beyond uses.

Because the action was an ordinance adoption, it will be filed as Ordinance 2025-5101 in the town records. No specific site plan or building permit approvals were discussed at the meeting; those processes would follow separately if and when proposals consistent with the rezoning are submitted.

Public comment during the meeting included a resident appeal to preserve trees in development, but no speaker raised formal objections to this rezoning during the hearing. The council’s stated rationale on the motion sheet cited consistency with the comprehensive plan and the applicant’s proposed use limitations.

Ordinance adoption and the zoning map change are final as adopted; the transcript does not record a roll-call vote or a vote tally in the minutes.