At its monthly meeting on March 21, the City of Marathon Planning Commission recommended the city council approve ordinances amending the Future Land Use Map (FLUM) from Residential Medium to Mixed Use-Commercial and the zoning designation from Residential Medium to Mixed Use for a property just off U.S. 1 on 69th Street in Marathon.
The commission heard from residents of 69th Street with varying degrees of concern regarding the change. While some expressed concern that the change could alter the residential nature of the neighborhood, others asked for assurances that barriers such as shrubs or trees would be planted at the edge of the property to block the sights and sounds of commercial activity next to residences.
“Just to clarify, we are looking at a zoning change tonight only, and nothing for the development of the property at this point,” said planning commission chair Lynn Landry.
Marathon planning director Brian Shea pointed out that the change to commercial zoning would also create a 20-foot buffer requirement on the property’s south side, creating additional distance from neighboring residences.
“When we did the zoning back in 2005, we should have made all of U.S. 1 commercial by nature. So it’s caused problems,” said commission member Mike Cinque.
Both ordinances passed unanimously among the four present commission members. The city council would have to approve them before they take effect.
