Lawn Thumbs
Landscape maintenance business downtown in the CC-1 zone. Over staff objections, the Planning Commission ruled 5-1 on Jan. 22, 2025 that the use fits the zone, then approved its site plan 6-0 on Dec. 17, 2025, allowing security wire.
- Where it stands
- Approved
- Type
- Site plan
- Location
- 120 N. Grant Ave.
- Size
- 0.487 acres
- Applicant
- Freddy Zahn
Every hearing and vote
January 22, 2025 · Planning Commission
Lawn Thumbs use determination, 120 N. Grant Ave. (0.48 acres)
Approved with conditions · 5-1
Request under 17.4.401(B)(17) to find a landscaping maintenance business similar to and in harmony with the CC-1 Central Commercial zone. Development Services Director Patrick O'Brien said staff could not issue a business license because the use is not listed and asked commissioners to judge it against the zone's intent as the downtown 'heart of the city.' Owner Freddy Zahn said he took over another landscaper's lease four years earlier, did not know he needed a license until he bought the property, and offered to make any changes required. Chair Christine Anderson said she would like to keep the business in the city but the use does not fit the zone's intent. Commissioners David Bird, Harold Dudley, Chris Christiansen, Bruce Frandsen and Rod Martin compared it to lumber yards, heating companies and nearby storage and trucking uses and called it a service use; Martin questioned whether the chair's opening explanation of procedures signaled an outside agenda, which Anderson denied. Approved subject to staff conditions; the property returned Dec. 17, 2025 for a site plan.
- Owner: Freddy Zahn
- Acres: 0.48
- Zone: CC-1
- Staff position: use not permitted
- No vote: Chair Christine Anderson
December 17, 2025 · Planning Commission
Lawn Thumbs Mowing Company site plan, 120 N. Grant Ave. (0.487 acres)
Approved with conditions · 6-0
Commercial site plan in the CC-1 Central Commercial zone for a lawn care business whose use had earlier been allowed through a request for consideration. Development Review Committee conditions included removing barbed or razor wire from the fence, a fence permit and sight-triangle compliance; a geotechnical report was required because the site had never had a site plan. Commissioner Rod Martin questioned why review took nearly a year and, with Commissioners Harold Dudley and Chris Christiansen, argued security wire above a 6-foot chain-link fence is a security add-on rather than a prohibited barbed-wire fence. Applicant Freddy Zahn said delays came from surveyor and geotech scheduling.
- Applicant: Freddy Zahn
- Acres: 0.487
- Zone: CC-1
- Conditions: Dec. 15, 2025 DRC conditions, except the ban on security wire