Plan commission recommends contract with Cedar Corp., OKs yoga studio

By John McLoone

PRESCOTT – The Prescott City Council will consider spending $17,850 for a review of the city zoning code.

The city's engineering firm, Cedar Corp., was the lowest of three bids received by the city. The city council’s ordinance committee recommended approval of a contract with Cedar Corp. in April. The plan commission voted unanimously Monday night at its meet- ing to forward that same recommendation to the city council, which will have the matter on its agenda Monday night, June 13.

City stau developed a plan last fall for changes in the Highway Commercial Zon- ing District. The plan commission had rec ommended the changes be enacted by the council. However, some property owners had concerns over the proposed changes, and the matter was sent back to committee at its second reading.

City Administrator Matt Wolf told the plan commission that it’s best to look at the whole zoning code and consider revisions that should be made, and that's what Cedar Corp. will be contracted to do, under the proposal.

In a memo to plan commissioners, Wolf wrote, “The Plan Commission considered a proposed change to the Highway Commer cial Zoning District (C-2) at their Oct. 4, 2021, meeting, which was passed by a vote of 4-to-0. The proposed change would have reclassified some of the current uses with – in the zoning district, specifically, the items classified as manufactured and mobile home, vehicle and equipment sales and service es tablishments, warehousing, wholesaling, and storage establishments. When these proposed changes were brought before the city council, they passed the first reading but ultimately the decision was to send them back to ordinance committee. The ordinance committee decided that it would be best to have a third party do a review of the zoning code and dis –

cuss possible changes." Wolf said it was not only the High – way Commercial zoning where changes could be possible. Currently, residential zoning also could allow for townhomes on double lots. Residential areas neighbor light industrial use. New things like solar farms aren't included in ordinances, nor would be electric car charging stations.

"Those are some areas of concern and inter –

est," said Wolf.

The proposal calls for Cedar Corp. to re – view Chapter 635, which is the city zoning ordinance and to work with city stau on ordi – nance amendments. A firm representative will attend a minimum of four plan commission meetings to present changes and amendment proposals. Working drafts of the zoning code will be presented to the plan commission pri – or to a public hearing on the final draft.

Cedar will then guide the proposal through city council approval and enactment.

"They're really doing quite a lot," said Wolf.

Funding for the contract would come from the city general fund.

Bodhi Studios plan approved

Bodhi Studios site plan for a fitness studio at 1125 Henry St. was approved unanimous – ly. Its new facility will be 2,108-square-feet in size on the .63-acre site.

The business is owned by Cortney Frank- lin, who currently operates her yoga studio within Snap Fitness in Prescott. Franklin hopes for the new studio facility to be open by fall.

The plan commission forwarded a res – olution in support of the project to the city council, which will act on it Monday at its meeting.

Wolf said the entrance to the business will be ou Henry Street, and the business will front on Campbell Street. He said aspects of the construction plan are within city code.

Franklin was encouraged to get construc- tion going as soon as possible, as Kwik Trip already has a lot of work to do on Henry Street restoration when its construction fin ishes, and the studio will need to connect to utilities in that road as well. Commission- ers suggested that the two projects could be timed so expenses for putting Henry Street back to city standard could be shared.

"As a result of Kwik Trip, Henry Street is in very bad shape. It's something we're working with Kwik Trip to address," said Wolf. "Ideally, they (the studio) could get in there before that's done." Franklin said they'll work with Kwik Trip on that.

"I'm hoping we can work together," she

said.