Council holds first reading on site-specific comp plan overlay for two parcels downtown

City planning staff presented ordinance 25-06, a site-specific amendment to the comprehensive plan that would create an overlay for two parcels totaling about 1.1 acres in the downtown area between Fifth Avenue Southwest and Oliver Street. A staff presenter identified the parcels as containing three dwellings and a mobile home park with more than 10 units, and said the south parcel contains a two-story concrete block building that was originally commercial but later converted to residential use without permits.

Planning staff said the property owners initially sought a rezone to residential but were steered toward an overlay because the parcels are surrounded by commercial and industrial zoning. The overlay, staff said, would allow the lower floor to remain commercial while permitting residential apartments on upper stories. The planning commission held a public hearing June 26 and recommended approval; staff reported no agency concerns and no public comment during the review.

Council discussion framed the overlay as consistent with the new comprehensive plan's goal of flexibility in transitional downtown zones. This meeting covered the ordinance's first reading; staff and several council members discussed whether to proceed past second reading, but no final ordinance adoption vote occurred at this meeting. The item will return for subsequent hearings as required for ordinance adoption.