An official resolution looking at a potential zoning change in the area by Jackson-Taylor Park was discussed by city council members during their work session Monday night. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

A scaled back version of a proposed rezoning of Jackson-Taylor Park is likely coming.

Conversations are continuing about changing the zoning code in the area by Jackson-Taylor Park from an R-2 residential to a C-1 neighborhood commercial, and an official resolution for the changes was discussed recently by the City Council. After concerns were raised by neighborhood resident, Kasie Foulk, city deputy development director, said the city is considering moving the lines of the rezoning proposal back. Those changes will be discussed by the city Planning Commission on Tuesday when it meets at 3:30 p.m. in the police training room on the fourth floor of City Hall.

Foulk said the C-1 change would not allow big, commercial businesses but rather small-scale businesses similar to what already exists down there that is sitting vacant. A map included in the council agenda packet outlined what businesses are currently down there and which ones are vacant.

“We’re hoping that activating that space will reduce any existing crime and persistent trespassing throughout those areas,” Foulk said.

Councilman Jeff Russell, R-At Large, asked Foulk to talk about the Department of Development’s vision and reason they wished to make this change, to which Foulk said the driving factor is the amount of vacant, commercial spaces in that residential zoned area. No one can currently use that space as intended unless they go before the zoning board for a use variance.

“The reason we decided on neighborhood commercial is because the businesses are small-scale,” Foulk said. “So it’s not having places like car repair shops next to the river, it’s more like bike rentals that would support the park; small cafes. If it’s enclosed retail it could be like a coffee shop. So, it’s not like commercial manufacturing by any means, it’s like Mom and Pops, think of Crown Street or Dots or that kind of thing; enclosed spaces or office space can be down there.”

The end goal, Foulk said, is to put something down there that would support the park. Russell noted that the Department of Development loves the Riverwalk and would not allow something down there that would jeopardize that. Foulk agreed, saying there would be nothing over there that would pollute or disturb the river.

Foulk also discussed that people looking to start businesses often meet with people on staff directly. The potential to move the border of the change two blocks west was then discussed again, and Foulk noted that the soil in that area also does not allow for new builds and the idea of putting housing there is not feasible and they have to be particular about what goes there.