GENTRY -- The Planning and Zoning Commission in Gentry voted on Thursday to recommend to the council a zoning change for property at 634 N. Gentry Blvd. which belongs to Cheryl Smith and Teresa McChristian and discussed the possible need for a change in the city's code regarding sketch plans and plats so that each phase of a subdivision meets all city requirements even if subsequent planned phases are delayed or not completed.
The planning and zoning commission recommended that the council approve a zoning change for Cheryl Smith and Teresa McChristian from C2 (commercial) to RO (residential-office) because a home is located there and it is not possible for prospective buyers to get government-guaranteed loans because the current zoning would not allow rebuilding the home if it were to be damaged or destroyed by fire or other cause. The action came during the regular meeting which followed an open public hearing on the matter.
Mark Smithson, the city's code enforcement officer, told the commission that a similar request would be brought to its next meeting from a homeowner on S. First Street whose property is zoned industrial.
Preliminary discussion on possible changes to city code regarding sketch plans, preliminary and final plats was held to offer guidance to Jay Williams, the city attorney, in preparing a proposed ordinance amending current code to address the issue. According to the discussion, the city code currently makes it possible for developers to obtain a preliminary plat for an entire subdivision even if it is built in phases and not necessarily make the subdivision comply with city code if some phases are delayed or never completed. The general consensus of the commission was to have city code require each phase of the subdivision bring the subdivision into full compliance with city code and fire code and not be out of compliance until all phases are complete.
The reason for the discussion and proposed amendment to city code was the possibility that a developer might, for one reason or another, not complete all the planned phases of a subdivision, leaving it out of compliance with city and fire codes until someone else, at a later date, completes the development.
Commission members were also advised that they needed to turn in their statements of financial interest and their direct deposit forms to the city hall.
General News on 01/25/2017