CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Receive the staff report for La Dimora di Douglas Resubdivision - PZC 22-1-007 (Item 1 of 3)
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Sara Kopinski, AICP
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
The Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) conducted the public hearing regarding rezoning the subject property on June 1, 2022 and voted to recommend approval of the request (approved 7-0). Staff concurs.
BACKGROUND:
The property is located on the south side of Chicago Avenue with a common address of 416 E. Chicago Avenue. The 13,917 square foot lot is currently improved with a single-family residence and is zoned R2 (Single-Family and Low Density Multiple-Family Residence District). The City’s Land Use Master Plan (2022) identifies the property’s future place type as single-family and duplex residential. This future place type includes R1B as an appropriate zoning district.
DISCUSSION:
The Petitioners and Property Owners, Brian and Kelly Douglas, are proposing to consolidate 416 E. Chicago Avenue, 410 E. Chicago Avenue, and 419 Highland Avenue into a single lot. Currently, 416 E. Chicago Avenue is zoned R2 (Single-Family and Low Density Multiple-Family Residence District), while 410 E. Chicago Avenue and 419 Highland Avenue are zoned R1B (Medium Density Single-Family Residence District). Accordingly, the Petitioners are requesting approval to rezone 416 E. Chicago Avenue from R2 to R1B to facilitate the consolidation. The existing single-family homes on the lots will be demolished and one single-family house and a pool cabana will be constructed on the consolidated lot.
Staff finds the proposed R1B zoning designation for the subject property to be consistent with the surrounding properties as well as the Land Use Master Plan. Consequently, staff supports the Petitioners’ request for rezoning.
The Petitioners’ responses to the Standards for Granting a Map Amendment can be found in the attachments. Upon review, staff is in general agreement with the Petitioners’ Findings and recommends their adoption by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Preliminary/Final Plat of Subdivision
In conjunction with the rezoning request, the Petitioners are also requesting approval of a preliminary/final plat of subdivision to consolidate the subject property with two adjacent lots. Although no new lots will be created, Section 7-2-5:2.2 (Administrative Plat Procedures) of the Municipal Code states that a plat cannot be administratively approved if the proposed plat changes the existing orientation of any lot. The proposed subdivision changes the existing front yard of a lot on Highland Avenue to a proposed rear yard. This change in lot orientation requires City Council’s review and approval.
The Petitioner has worked with staff to maintain the integrity of a front yard along Highland Avenue to preserve the street’s existing character. A setback line has been voluntarily platted along Highland Avenue and will be treated in conformity with front yard setback requirements for properties in the R1B Zoning District. Staff finds the proposed plat meets all technical requirements for approval and is supportive of the consolidation.
Planning & Zoning Commission Action
The Planning and Zoning Commission considered this matter at their meeting on June 1, 2022. Jon Green, Engineering Resource Associates, spoke on behalf of the petitioner and provided additional details on the request. There was no public testimony and after limited discussion the Commission closed the public hearing and voted to recommend approval of the rezoning (approved 7-0). Staff concurs with the recommendation.
Key Takeaways
• The petitioners are requesting approval to rezone the subject property from R2 (Single-Family and Low Density Multiple-Family Residence District) to R1B (Medium Density Single Family Residence District). The Planning and Zoning Commission and staff are supportive of the rezoning given its consistency with the City’s Land Use Master Plan and with the surrounding properties’ zoning classifications.
• Following rezoning, the petitioners intend to consolidate the subject property with two adjacent lots. Staff finds the proposed preliminary/final plat of subdivision meets all technical requirements for approval.