Wright City officials are considering rezoning land along the Interstate 70 corridor in an attempt to attract more commercial growth.

Currently there are some properties that are zoned light industrial, but city officials are in favor of changing all of the land adjoining the interstate to commercial.

City officials believe it will help prospective companies navigate through the planning and zoning process easier

“We’re trying to make it eye friendly and get some things going,” Mayor David Heiliger said. “We’re trying to get more favorable businesses that can bring in more tax revenue and help the citizens. We’re trying to look to the future.”

Had the change already been made, a conditional use permit granted to the Kaplan Lumber Company would not have been needed if Scotts Miracle-Gro, one of the world’s leading lawn and garden companies, opened a processing facility there. The permit was needed since raw and finished material was going to be stored outside.

According to officials, the city remains in the running to have Scotts relocate to the city. Two other sites in Columbia also are being considered.

At the same time, PSC Metals, Inc., wanted to open a scrap metal transfer/facility at 15940 Veterans Memorial Parkway, property near Schreiter Concrete, but a conditional use permit was denied.

City officials said it wasn’t the type of business they wanted located on the highway. The city also received a petition from residents of a nearby Kendallwood subdivision who opposed the business.

Officials, however, were open to the business opening in the industrial park.

Should the city proceed with the rezoning, normal planning and zoning requirements would have to be followed, such as holding a public hearing and contacting adjacent property owners.

City attorney Josh Payton, of Cunningham, Vogel and Rost, P.C., said he didn’t see a problem with a possible rezone.

“The standard generally is not the highest and best use of the property, but is there an economic use?” he said. “When you have the highest and best possible use, is there a feasible economic use at the time? If you’re going from light industrial use to commercial, then it would be.”

In another planning and zoning matter discussed last week, city officials want to determine how to prevent and enforce when multifamily units open in single-family residential zoning district.

Occupancy permits are required, but most of the time the city  is not notified from the property owners or new tenants. 

“If a landlord moves people in and keeps water service on one meter, we don’t see that there is four families living in that unit,” Alderman Jim Schuchmann said. “We’re not officially notified of a change. Next thing we know, six cars are parked in the driveway and four families are coming out. It’s probably something we need to look at more seriously.”

City officials said the only way a multifamily can operate in the single-family district is if a conditional use permit is granted.

Payton said he would need to review the city’s current enforcement procedures to determine how the city should proceed.