Planning commission recommends denial of rezoning for 229 North Washington

The El Dorado Planning and Zoning Commission recommended denial of a rezoning application to change 229 North Washington from R-2 (residential medium density) to R-3 (multiple-family) zoning.

Staff explained that R-3 is the only residential district that allows transitional housing and that the future land use map designates the area as mixed residential. Drew Wilson of RISE described the proposed transitional housing as structured and managed, and staff had proposed 42 conditions to govern operations. Several neighbors and property owners testified in opposition, citing past thefts, trespassing and concerns about parking and property values.

Commission discussion centered on whether rezoning a single parcel in an otherwise predominantly single-family block would create a permanent R-3 island that could allow future dense development. One commissioner said, in effect, that rezoning would be “a fairly dramatic change from what is essentially single family to multiple family.” Another commissioner urged caution, noting the long-term implications if R-3 remained in place.

A motion to recommend denial of the rezoning passed on a roll call vote (yes votes to deny recorded). Because the rezoning recommendation failed, the panel did not vote on the special use permit application for transitional housing; that SUP remains possible only if zoning changes via a later process.

The commission’s advisory recommendation now goes to the city commission for final action.