Mount Vernon City Council President Bruce Hawkins cast the deciding vote to break a tie during the April 24 City Council meeting, approving the rezoning of a property at the southeast corner of Parrot and South Main Streets from R1A to R3 multifamily residential.
According to a YouTube meeting recording, Law Director Rob Broeren explained that under municipal code, once a planning commission makes a recommendation, it requires a two-thirds majority vote to overrule. Broeren said that five votes would have been necessary for such an action. Consequently, even with a 4-3 vote against rezoning, it would not meet the requirement to overturn the planning commission's decision.
The meeting video indicated that several council members were influenced by the fact that R1 zoning would necessitate allowing curb cuts on South Main Street near the intersection. Broeren mentioned that the attached residential district aims to encourage orderly medium-density residential development through multifamily housing in various types.
The meeting agenda revealed that property owner Joe Updike requested rezoning for four vacant parcels to facilitate constructing multifamily apartment units. A site development plan would be required if zoning approval was granted.
Broeren noted in the meeting recording that construction cannot commence immediately. A proposed zoning plan must be submitted to the Engineering office for Development Services Manager Lacie Blankenship's review to ensure compliance with city zoning codes before permits are issued. "Now we actually have the city inspector who will go out to make sure that they're building what they said," Broeren said, highlighting past instances where projects deviated from approved plans.
