Planning staff recommends denial of rezoning for 8769 Dayton Pike; commission endorses denial

The Planning Commission voted to recommend denial to the City Commission of a request to rezone 8769 Dayton Pike from M‑2 (wholesale/light industry) to R‑1 (single‑family residential) to accommodate a proposed church and associated commercial activities.

Planner Kyra Jones explained the 2012 City ordinance aims to preserve commercial and industrial parcels for tax‑generating uses and expressly discourages tax‑exempt uses in M‑1, M‑2, C‑2 and C‑3 zones. "The recommendation is based on the appropriate long term zoning classification and land use policy for the City rather than any religious denomination of the applicant," Jones said, and staff found the rezoning request inconsistent with established policy.

Applicants and church representatives urged adaptive reuse of the 33,000‑square‑foot warehouse and said the proposal would include taxable business elements (a coffee shop, rentable event spaces and a daycare). Ian Shaw, pastor of C4 church, said the property would host a coffee shop serving 60–90 people and operate multiple hours weekly. Neighbors and commissioners raised concerns that rezoning would remove a large industrial parcel from the tax roll and set an undesirable precedent. Commissioner Shipley moved to recommend denial; Secretary Penney seconded and the motion passed unanimously.