City Council approved a zoning change Tuesday that will convert a residential property at 311 Laurel to Downtown District designation, despite concerns from a neighboring homeowner about the impact on the existing neighborhood.
The 0.289-acre property, currently zoned for multi-family residential medium density, is expected to be combined with adjacent properties for a mixed-use development. The change aligns with the city’s long-term plans for downtown expansion, according to city staff.
Tracine Poti, who lives adjacent to the property, urged the council to reject the change, citing concerns about drainage issues, parking, sidewalks, and the potential impact on property values. “We have lived in this neighborhood for 18 years,” Poti said. “I’m concerned about resale, I’m concerned about crime.”
City staff noted that any future development would require a 15-foot setback from single-family homes and an 8-foot opaque fence with landscaping buffers. The property lies within the downtown district boundary established in 2008 as part of the city’s long-term development strategy.
Troy Kennedy of Kennedy Architecture, representing the property owner, stated the change “meets all the criteria of the downtown district guidelines” and aligns with the city’s 2008 downtown district program.
The council voted unanimously to approve the rezoning, with members noting that any specific development plans would require additional review and approval through the city’s normal planning process.
