Although the Motley City Council unanimously approved (at their regular meeting Feb. 24) the creation of a Downtown Mixed Use (DMU) zoning district and a Land Use Matrix, they are not in agreement about some of the details.

Yet to be determined (due to differing opinions) are the exact wording of the matrix (a detailed chart that explains what is permitted or excluded in each zoning district); and the location of the mixed-use zoning district.

At their regular meeting April 14, the council acted on two motions made by council member Rob Sampson and seconded by fellow member Duane Solga.

Both needed a four-fifths vote by the council to be approved; and both failed. Although council member Nancy Nieken voted in the affirmative to each, Mayor Konrad Alexander voted no both times; and council member Rena Underhill was absent.

The first failed motion had to do with an amendment to the matrix, which changed both appliance repair and plumbing shop from a permitted to a Conditional Use. It also gave a definition for a parking lot.

Sampson's other motion, to approve the downtown mixed use zoning map as presented by the planning and zoning commission, also failed.

The proposed district encompasses approximately 12 full blocks and 10 half blocks in Motley.

Mayor Alexander said he felt this proposed zoning district, which includes property on both sides of Highway 10, covers too large of an area. He thinks a four-block area would be sufficient.

The Mayor also expressed concerns that he feels the matrix excludes too many businesses.

Sampson explained that the DMU has the mix of commercial and residential; and the regulations to allow the two to intermix with minimal problems.

A mixed-use zoning district, Sampson said, is geared to walking style businesses (schools, parks, office buildings).

"You're only excluding from a C2 zone and there are many areas in town that are zoned for this," Sampson told the mayor.

Solga said he believed the mixed-use zoning would give the city more of an area for small businesses. "I think the benefits outweigh any harm, that's my opinion," he added.

According to Sampson, switching from a commercial to a mixed-use zoning would actually add 32 new uses, while only taking away two.

Bruce Mills, Planning and Zoning Commission member, made a suggestion that the DMU map be brought back to the P & Z. "That seems to be the biggest issue causing the set-back," he said at the council meeting.

A planning and zoning meeting (with the potential of a quorum of the council in attendance) was later scheduled for April 21, to discuss the DMU.