14 - Zoning Change Two Family Dwelling to Neighborhood Service - Block 4 Lot 23 - 3206 Bonham

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Item No. 14 TO: Mayor & Council FROM: John Godwin, City Manager SUBJECT: ZONING CHANGE, 3206 BONHAM STREET DATE: June 4, 2019 BACKGROUND: Lisa C. Short has applied for a change in zoning on a 0.254 acre lot on Bonham Street. The purpose of the request is to change the zoning from 2F Residential to Neighborhood Service (NS) for the purpose of continuing to operate a tax service business that has operated on this lot for a number of years as a home occupation. The property is located on a relatively well -travelled state highway; it has no drainage issues. STATUS OF ISSUE: A significant majority of the area is single family and is so zoned. A few exceptions include two other NS lots, an MF -1, the VFW hall (a former church), and two lots inexplicably zoned 2F. These latter two lots include the subject lot and its immediately contiguous neighboring lot, neither of which are duplexes. The future land use plan calls for a wide strip of both sides of Bonham to convert over time to retail -type uses, which could include neighborhood services. This request is therefore consistent with the city's long-term plan, although in the short-term will be inconsistent with most of what is currently on the ground. Another concern is inadequate parking; in the past customers have blocked the side street and generated complaints. Finally, any time we consider a zoning change, we must always consider not just the application of the day, but what other uses are allowed with a requested zoning. Uses allowed outright in Neighborhood Services include: residential, church, college, day camp, nursery, lodge, hospital, park, residence home, school, private pool, community center, alcohol sales, commercial auto parking lot, bakery, cafeteria, greenhouse, cleaning & dyeing, candy or cake shop, florist, laundry, office, and sit-down restaurant. The planning and zoning commission conducted a public hearing at its regular meeting of June 3, at which three individuals spoke in favor and one in opposition. In addition there was a petition in opposition and a letter in support. The commission unanimously recommended approval of this zoning request.