The Jefferson City Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of a rezoning request that would have facilitated a possible expansion of a local gardening business.
Applicant Rick Penno requested rezoning 2.69 acres of the 2700 block of Route CC from RU Rural to C-2 General Commercial, as well as amending the development plan map in the city’s Comprehensive Plan to reflect the proposed rezoning.
Penno hopes rezoning the currently undeveloped land will help facilitate the possible expansion of the neighboring Green Horizons Garden Center LLC, co-owned by Penno, the city staff report states.
Penno does not have any “immediate plans to expand” though, said project consultant Paul Sampson, with Central Missouri Professional Services.
The commission voted 5-2 to approve the rezoning and amendment. Commissioners Jack Deeken and Dale Vaughan voted against the proposal.
The Jefferson City Council will have a public hearing on the rezoning Dec. 17.
Erman and Dorothy Loesch currently own the property. The property is being divided though administrative parcel division, the city staff’s report states.
While the land was originally intended for low-density residential, it is near state highways, Route CC, Route C and Highway 179.
“A redesignation of the property to commercial would be a logical expansion of the commercial designation in the area,” Jefferson City Planner 1 Ian Zollinger said. “The change would not be a major change in the intended use pattern for this area.”
The commission was originally scheduled to hear the case last month, but Penno requested a continuance since he was unable to attend the Oct. 11 meeting.
The request was later amended in late October. The original rezoning application requested rezoning 5.95 acres instead of the 2.69 acres.
Sampson said they reduced the rezoning request after receiving concerns from neighboring residents.
Several nearby residents sent letters and emails to city staff last month, expressing their opposition. Property owners Sarah and Andy Cain said Thursday they were concerned of future developments if Penno decided to sell the property. The Cains’ property abuts the proposed rezoning, but the property is used as residential.
Sampson said Penno has “no plans at this time to sell” the land. He added the land does not currently have access to sewer, so that would impact certain developments.
The Cains added they were worried there was not a buffer between the two properties since the Cains’ property is zoned commercial, but used as residential.