2002-09 REZONING PROPERTY - 2071 AND 2117 EAST DAMON AVENUE

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Page 2 of 3 World of Power Sports February 7, 2002 services. Despite staff's recommendation that the rezoning was intrusive upon the existing Single Family neighborhood, both the Plan Commission and the City Council voted to approve the rezoning. 3. On January 10, 2002, the owners requested a variance to allow the expansion of the parking area onto the adjacent residentially-zoned property. The petitioners were advised that such a variance would only allow parking on the lot, and that the requested storage would be allowed only if the property were rezoned. The petitioners opted to proceed with the variance, in order to begin construction of the parking lot while the weather remained warm. They are aware that if the rezoning is denied they may use the parking area approved by the I ZBA far parking only. ' PROJECT DESCRIPTION I 4. The petitioner is proposing the rezoning of the above mentioned addresses to enable the II expansion of the existing customer and employee parking areas and to construct a new product storage yard in order to meet the needs of his expanding business. Currently, the I main parking area for the World of Power Sports is on the east side facing 22nd Street. 5. To accommodate this expansion, the petitioner proposes paving lots 32 and 31. The petitioner also proposes to demolish the structures on lot 32. The petitioner has no plans for lots 15 and 16 at the present time. STAFF ANALYSIS 1. The Decatur Urban Land Use Plan depicts the neighborhood of this petition as a residential pocket in the heart of an industrial area. From site visits, Staffs observation is that most of the residences in this locality are occupied. Staff has been contacted by a neighbor expressing concern as to the future plans of the World of Power Sports' owners. The neighbor would not wish to see the proposed parking lot transformed into a testing area for sports vehicles. 2. As noted above, the rezoning of the All Service Filter property was recommended for denial by staff. In spite of this, the rezoning was approved by City Council, after a positive recommendation by the Plan Commission. Staff is of the opinion that the prior rezoning, coupled with the R-2 to M-1 rezoning approved in March 19, 2001 at 2008 East Damon Avenue has changed the nature of the uses along Damon. Ordinarily, staff would oppose such a lot-by-lot encroachment into an established neighborhood; however in this case it appears that the basis for such opposition has disappeared because of prior rezoning approvals. 3. However,this analysis does not extend to the properties proposed for rezoning along Pythian Avenue. Lot 15 contains an occupied residence, while the north half of lot 16 is behind a private residence. These lots are opposite residential lots which have not been compromised by incremental rezonings. Absent any planned B-2 use of these lots, staff does not support rezoning of these parcels.