The Planning and Zoning Committee met on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 1:04 PM in Council Chambers, with Chair Andrew Owen presiding. The meeting was conducted via video teleconference and adjourned at 1:28 PM. The committee considered four pending ordinances, including three street closure and binding element amendments that advanced to the consent calendar, and a temporary moratorium on data center applications that passed with amendment and was sent to old business.
Sonya, can you hire me? Yes, I can hear you. I never want to make sure. Yeah, okay. Okay. I just want to make sure I wouldn't have any buttons. Okay. Welcome to the regular scheduled meeting of the planning and zoning committee. It is August 4th, 2026, and it's 104 p.m. I am the chair of the committee, Andrew Owen. I'm joined by my vice chair virtually Scott Reed, also joined virtually by uh Councilman Benson, Councilwoman Raymond, Councilwoman Hawkins and Hawkins, and I'm joined in chambers by Councilwoman Rui, Councilman Hudson, and Councilman Bat Sean. Um Clerk, you want to read the uh did I say read? I if I did not say I was joined by my Vice Chair Reed, I will say it again that I'm joined being joined virtually by my vice chair Scott Reed. Oh, um I sorry, I also she's wearing a hat, and so she's kind of incognito here in the uh on the on the on the chamber floor here. Uh I'm also joined uh by my esteemed councilwoman colleague uh Shemika Parish right. Thank you, Council Right. I'm like what uh Cheryl, would you like to read the uh the virtual notice in to the record for us? Yes, the meetings be in here, proceed to carry 61.826 and council roof 5A read in full. Thank you. Uh the first item on the agenda is item number one, O-197-26, an ordinance relating to the amendment to binding elements for property located at 908 South English Station Road, containing approximately 12 and a half acres and being in Lowell Metro. Case number 26 AMED, amendment 0002. Can I get a motion? Properly moved and seconded. Uh how are we doing? Good. Are you ready? Yes. All right. Julia Williams, Office of Planning. So this is uh 26 amends 0002, South English Station Road. Uh this is located in Council District 11 at 908 South English Station Road. Uh this is the site. This is the zoning map for the site, zone CM, commercial manufacturing. Uh the request for is for an amendment to binding elements. Uh the binding element, the current binding element states the only permitted C1, C2, M1 or CM use allowed on the property shall be mini storage and recreational vehicles and boat and landscape trailer parking. Uh the applicant would like to add and short-term rental of the existing north building on the site until such time as the mini storage building is constructed to that binding element number 15. Uh this is the applicant's development plan. Uh view of the property from South English Station Road. Uh the planning commission held their public hearing on June 18, uh, 2026, where there was a motion to recommend approval of the amendment to binding element passing by a vote of eight to zero. Are there any questions? Thank you, Julia. Uh let's see here. I should know this. This is in the council district eleven. Oh, this is so I have a um I have a note from Councilman Kramer's LA. Let me find that real quick. Um so one question Council Councilman Kramer has is he he would appreciate confirmation that temporarily means the short-term rental use is permitted only during the construction period, and that once the mini storage slash RB and boat storage facility is operational, the short-term rental use would no longer be permitted under the binding elements. So the binding element says that uh it adds short-term rental of the existing north building until such time as the mini storage building is constructed. So when the mini storage building is constructed, then the short-term rental shall cease on the property. Perfect.