The housing committee discussed during their latest meeting that the borders of the potential zoning code changes by Jackson-Taylor Park have been moved. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

Following some feedback and concerns from residents that will be affected by the Department of Development’s plan to revise the zoning code around Jackson-Taylor Park, some of the borders of where that will take effect have been changed.

The department has been working on plans to change the zoning code around the park from an R-2 as it currently stands, to a C-1, neighborhood commercial. Changing to a C-1 is set to allow smaller businesses to be built in the area, to help with some of the current businesses sitting vacant there and to address the problem that building new houses in the area is not necessarily the logical approach.

During Monday’s housing committee meeting, Director of Development Crystal Surdyk said the adjustments have been made by a block to two to accommodate the concerns, and that areas that have more residents and are a more dense R-2 zone will remain the same, including Lafayette Street and Jefferson Street.

Surdyk said after the changes have been made the department believes it is ready and set to be voted on at next week’s voting session unless other concerns are brought forward. Councilman Bill Reynolds, R-Ward 5 and chair of the housing committee, said he felt the change was a “win-win”.

“I think it’s a win-win for developers, investors, and the neighborhood and the existing businesses that are there,” Reynolds said. “Without question, it has potential.”

Surdyk also addressed that the department is in the process of a complete reboot of the overall zoning code, saying that this will give them the opportunity to make a change that she said she felt makes a lot of sense. It may also adjust as the bigger zoning code changes come.

“I think that’s the important thing, that we are looking at it from a place of we need to be able to adapt and evolve in keeping with the way our community is evolving and adapting,” Surdyk said.

It was noted that it might be two years before the complete reboot is finished, and in order to support businesses and the current opportunities in the city, especially with all of the other ongoing projects right now, Surdyk said it behooves the city to not wait to make this change.