AUBURN — The City Council has formally asked the Planning Board to weigh in on yet another zoning change at the Gracelawn Road parcel owned by John Gendron.

This time, the proposal would shift 45 acres to the multifamily suburban zoning district, which officials said is more in line with the Comprehensive Plan, and retains the ability for housing to be developed while limiting certain commercial uses.

The City Council previously rezoned 60 acres of Gendron’s land between Gracelawn Road and Lake Auburn to the general business zoning. According to the proposal, 15 acres at the front of the property along Gracelawn would remain in that zone.

“Amending the zoning toward the back of the Gracelawn pit area closer to the lake allows for the creative reuse of land while limiting some of the heavier uses allowed in the general business district,” a staff memo states.

The council voted 5-1 Monday to send the proposal to the Planning Board for its review and recommendation.

Councilor Steve Milks said the proposal is more in line with what consultants for Gendron initially proposed at the site. He said the area zoned for commercial uses could be used to support any residential uses should they be developed there.

At one time, Gendron eyed a 1,100-unit development on the 88-acre site, but the proposal set off a communitywide debate over water quality that included a lawsuit between the city of Lewiston and the Auburn Water District.

Eventually, an amended watershed boundary was approved by the state, limiting the amount of development that could occur, and the city rezoned 60 acres. When the new City Council came on board, it attempted to delay the change, but ultimately decided against it.

However, in April, city staff announced that Gendron had decided not to pursue a housing project at the site, and planned to continue with his gravel mining operation for the foreseeable future.

It’s unclear whether the new zoning proposal could change those plans.

According to a staff memo, the proposed change “has been developed in consultation with the landowner and would balance concerns of the public for watershed protection with the future land use plans of the city, as well as maintaining the allowance for housing at the property.”

Councilor Rick Whiting said he believes the Planning Board would be in favor of the change because it’s consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. He said he also believes it’s more consistent with what was originally intended for the property.

The memo states that the 15 acres to remain in general business district would complement the commercial zoning on the opposite side of Gracelawn Road and “allow for expanded development opportunity further from Lake Auburn.”