Council approves rezoning for small downtown PUD after resident safety and parking concerns

At the March 25 public hearing, planning staff summarized a PUD application (Z23-0012) to rezone two lots at the northwest corner of Main and State streets to allow up to four dwelling units. Planning recommended approval and the Planning Commission previously voted 4–0 in favor.

Multiple nearby residents raised concerns during the hearing about whether the existing building would be demolished, parking, safety for school buses, fire trucks and garbage trucks, and developer follow-up to neighbor inquiries. Nancy Henry, who lives at 608 West Main across the street from the site, said she had difficulty finding information and asked, "Is the existing building being torn down and replaced? I can't tell from that." The applicant representative responded in the hearing that the structure would not be torn down.

Council members pressed staff and the applicant on parking and safety; planning staff said the application provides off-street parking and that on-street parking is not counted toward parking requirements in the downtown area. Council asked staff to have traffic staff assess local egress and enforcement options; staff agreed to follow up with the resident. The council then voted to approve the rezoning (vote recorded as passed 4–0).