Planning Commission recommending zoning changes, grants variance

GENTRY — The Planning and Zoning Commission on Thursday approved a variance request and sent three zoning changes on to the city council for final approval.

After public hearings regarding a requested variance and zoning changes, the Commission voted to grant a variance to Bobby Hogan, for his property at 217 N. Collins, allowing him to keep a stand-alone carport which encroaches on setback requirements so long as he does not modify it or enclose it. The carport was installed two years ago and is a roof on a metal frame to shelter automobiles. The property is located in an area zoned R-3 (or heavy-density residential). The variance is subject to renewal annually.

The Commission is recommending the council adopt a zoning change for three parcels containing homes in the 200 block of East First Street from industrial zoning to RO (residential or office). The request came about as a result of two of the property owners attempting to sell their homes and finding out that potential home buyers could not obtain mortgage loans to purchase the homes because the current zoning would not permit a home to be rebuilt on the property should it be destroyed by fire or other calamity.

The three properties are those of Sue Truitt at 205 E. First Street, Trena Hinkle at 201 East First Street and Brenda Flores at 209 S.E. First Street. Property across the street to the north was rezoned at the last council meeting for the same reasons.

The Commission also discussed proposed code changes to the preliminary and final plat requirements to ensure that developers who chose to complete a subdivision in phases would not leave the subdivision out of compliance with city and state codes should subsequent phases be canceled or delayed.

The proposed ordinance change would require each phase to meet all applicable plumbing, electrical, water, sewer and building codes and city ordinances. Since there were questions regarding the wording of the proposed ordinance, a vote on the proposal was delayed until questions can be answered by the city attorney, who was not able to be present at the Thursday night meeting.

After a public hearing on the matter, the commission did again vote to approve recommendations for changes in the check list required when subdivisions are developed.