6 new single-family homes planned for Holmes Road

Rome officials also will consider a proposed rezoning that clears the way for more retail on Dean Avenue.

Plans are in the works to put six new houses on a 1.15-acre tract on Holmes Road, between Cheney Street and Skyview Terrace in Rome.

Builder Walt Busby said the single-family homes would range in size from 1,350 to 1,550 square feet. He’s seeking a rezoning to suburban-residential use from neighborhood-office-commercial.

The vacant property held eight rental houses as late as 2002, according to Rome-Floyd County Planning Director Sue Hiller. She said there’s a lot-size requirement of at least 7,200 square feet, so only six can be built — but she’s recommending approval of the zoning change.

“The property is accessible only through residential streets, and N-O-C could introduce an inappropriate non-residential use,” Hiller said.

The Rome-Floyd County Planning Commission also recommended approval. The Rome City Commission will have the final say following a public hearing on March 27.

A hearing and decision also are scheduled on a proposal to add a 0.2-acre piece of property at 532 King St. to a larger commercial tract fronting on Dean Street to build an undisclosed retail business.

Hiller said the zoning change would allow commercial activity to encroach into the residential area of King Street, but the five houses are on

lots zoned for light-industrial use. Also, the tract belongs to the adjacent resident and a small slice of undeveloped property would act as a buffer.

She and the planning commission are recommending approval.

A plan for Trinity United Methodist Church and Sherold Salmon Auto Superstore to swap some property also is expected to sail through the rezoning process. The two sit next to each other on Turner McCall Boulevard.

Hiller said the auto sales property must be zoned for commercial use while the church holdings are on land zoned office-institutional.