Commissioner McClain made a motion to recommend approval of the application.  A second to the motion was made by Commissioner Preston.  The Independence Planning Commission voted as follows:

The motion passed and such application is forwarded to the City Council for its consideration. Staff recommends approval of this application.

The Martin D. Shrout Trust requests to rezone the northern portion its property at 2000 N. Elsea Smith Road from C-1 (Neighborhood Commercial) to R-A (Residential-Agriculture).

During the process of selling this 37+ acre property on Elsea Smith Road, it was discovered that the roughly northern 100 feet of the lot is zoned C-1 (Neighborhood Commercial) and has been since at least May, 1980 when the City adopted a new zoning ordinance and zoning map.  In older aerial photographs, there’s evidence that the commercially zoned land north of this lot was used for some manner of business activity.  As City policy is that properties must have a single zoning classification, and to avoid potential land title issues in the future, it was decided to rezone this northern strip to R-A, the zoning of the remainder of the lot, and most other land in the area.

The entire lot has 400 feet of frontage along Elsea Smith Road, and is 1,270 feet deep at it greatest point.  Used as farmland for decades, the tract is reasonably level and contains no areas of floodplain or stream buffer.  

Consistency with Independence for All, Strategic Plan:

There are no policies in this plan to address this type of issue.

Comprehensive Plan Guiding Land Use Principles: 

The City Comprehensive Plan recommends Agricultural uses for this site.  This rezoning action supports a policy of the Plan to retain the agriculture character of the area.

Recommendations and decisions on rezoning applications must be based on consideration of all of the following criteria:

1.      Conformance of the requested zoning with the Comprehensive Plan.

The Comprehensive Plan envisions Agricultural use for this site.

2.      Conformance of the requested zoning with any adopted neighborhood or sub-area plans in which the property is located or abuts.

There are no neighborhood or sub-area plans for this area.

3.      The compatibility of the proposed zoning with the zoning and use of nearby property, including any overlay zoning.

Except for the undeveloped commercial properties to the north, the proposed zoning is compatible with all nearby properties.

4.      The compatibility of the proposed zoning and allowed uses with the character of the neighborhood.

This area consists of land in agriculture use or has been divided into large lots for residential use.

5.      The suitability of the subject property for the uses to which it has been restricted under the existing zoning regulations.

Considering its size and location, it has no potential commercial use.

6.      The length of time the subject property has remained vacant as zoned.

The property has long been used for agricultural purposes.

7.      The extent to which approving the rezoning will detrimentally affect nearby properties.

The rezoning will have no detrimental effect on area properties.

8.      The gain, if any, to the public health, safety and welfare due to denial of the application, as compared to the hardship imposed upon the landowner, if any, as a result of denial of the application. 

If the rezoning is denied it, would have a negative financial effect on the owner as he would not be able to convey the property for use as a single family home.

Planning Commission Action:  At its June 23, 2020 Planning Commission meeting, the motion for approval passed 7-0, after consideration of the following facts:

1. That, the rezoning is consistent with the review criteria listed in Section 14-701-02 of the City Code.
2.  That, a public hearing was held virtually pursuant to a notice duly published according to law, at which time all interested parties were given the full opportunity to be heard.
3. That, the current C-1 (Neighborhood Commercial) zoning allows the following uses: retail, office, restaurants, banks, daycare centers, government facilities, churches, schools, and medical services.
4.  That, the proposed R-A (Residential-Agriculture) allows the following uses: single family dwellings, cropland, ranches, churches, schools and government facilities.
5.  That, at the Planning Commission hearing, Douglas Shrout, spokesman for the family trust, spoke in favor of the application, and no one spoke against the proposed rezoning.
6. That, no protest petition was submitted in opposition to the application.

Draft Planning Commission minutes:

"Case 20-100-07 – Rezoning – 2000 N. Elsea Smith Road

Staff Presentation

Stuart Borders presented the case.  Mr. Borders presented the Commission with a vicinity map, noting the area and surrounding zoning.  He presented the Commission with an aerial map indicating the project area and explained the surrounding land uses. 

Applicant Comments

Douglas Shrout, 1312 SW US 40 Highway, stated he had no further information to provide to the Planning Commission.

Public Comments

            No public comments.

Motion

Commissioner McClain made a motion to approve Case 20-100-07 – Rezoning – 2000 N. Elsea Smith Road.  Commissioner Preston seconded the motion.  The motion passed with seven affirmative votes."