OTTAWA — City officials are trying to figure out what to do with a hopeless deadlock among planning commissioners. The planners voted 3 to 3 last on a request to rezone the area around the Elizabeth Layton Center’s clinic on Eisenhower Road southwest of Ottawa from a county category to a city category. The area is in the city’s urban growth area and planning commissioners have been rezoning properties in the area. However, some planners were concerned about the category recommended by the city planning staff. The seventh member could break the tie vote but can’t vote because he’s a member of the Layton Center board. City planning and codes director Wynndee Lee said it’s the first time she’s had to deal with a hopeless deadlock and she’s still trying to decide how to present the matter to the city commission. The county could buy part of the land for a juvenile detention center. Lee said the county would be able to build a juvenile center whether the rezoning is changed or not.
