Council considers rezoning options

FAYETTEVILLE — Residents of the south part of town will have another chance to weigh in on a rezoning request in their neighborhood.

The City Council left on its first reading a request to change the land-use designation for about half an acre at Montgomery Street and School Avenue, south of the Fulbright Expressway. The property is zoned for single-family homes up to four units an acre.

Southern Brothers Construction, the applicant, originally asked the Planning Commission to change the zone to residential multifamily allowing up to six units an acre. The Planning Commission during its Jan. 14 meeting asked the applicant to consider requesting a zone of mixed commercial and residential use.

The commission recommended a neighborhood services, general, rezoning at its Jan. 28 meeting, and the applicant agreed. That zoning allows residences up to fourplexes, accessory dwelling units, cluster homes, home occupations and small businesses. Southern Brothers said in a letter to the city it intends to build two, two-story duplexes on the property.

Garner Stoll, Development Services director,

suggested Tuesday the council consider a residential single-family zoning allowing up to eight units per acre. The designation would allow two duplexes under a permit granted from the Planning Commission. Other issues such as height, setback and orientation would also go under review before the commission.

“I’m just trying to find something that is in your toolbox now, not a year from now, that might achieve the applicant’s goals and ensure it’s developed in a more compatible manner,” he said.

Letters from neighbors submitted to the city suggested the property be zoned as neighborhood conservation, which allows only single-family homes and accessory units.

The neighborhood has about 30 homes built decades ago in the ranch style of the 1960s, according to city planners. Neighbors during commission meetings expressed concern over new development not fitting in with surrounding homes.

One resident, Teresa Youngblood, spoke during Tuesday’s meeting. She asked the council to vote against the neighborhood services, general, rezoning request before them. She asked for time for neighbors to go over what Stoll proposed.

“We have a great multigenerational group right now. Older folks are walking dogs, people with little kids are out there with wagons,” Youngblood said. “What we’re looking for is to maintain the integrity of the character of our neighborhood, as a neighborhood.”

Council member Matthew Petty said he hoped the council at some point would have a deeper conversation about the issues the request has raised. Going through the process for a permit would amount to at least 100 days’ worth of application and review time, he said.

“If the applicant wants to do that, bless their hearts,” Petty said. “But that can’t be our solution every time something like this comes forward.”

The matter will be on its second reading at the next City Council meeting.