A 4-plex and a duplex located at 2707 13th Street West were rezoned from multi-family to Residential 9,600 by City initiative in 1972, when current zoning regulations were adopted and the zoning map was revised to be compatible with those regulations.  The lots previously had been changed from single family to multi-family zoning in 1970 at the property owner's request, and the buildings were constructed in 1971. They have been rented ever since as income property. Although the 1970 ordinance adopting the original multi-family zoning cannot be located, the property owner, Vaughn Rohrdanz, has documentation of the original zone change, including minutes of the City Council meeting at which it was approved.

The property owner wishes to sell the buildings, and rezoning from R-96 to R-60 is required to make them eligible for financing.  BMCC 27-1502 allows proposals to amend the map and change the zoning to be initiated by the City Council or, upon application by the owner, by the Planning Board.

A City Council initiative was created to bring the change forward as a Council proposal.

City Council may:

• Approve initiating a map amendment and zone change from R96 to R60 for 2707 13th St. West, or;
• Require the property owner to initiate the change through the Planning Board at his own expense;
• Disapprove initiating the amendment and zone change.

Staff recommends the City Council initiate the map amendment and zone change from R-96 to R-60 for 2707 13th St. West.