Southern Hills rezoning unpopular with neighbors

Residents of the Southern Hills neighborhood expressed their concern over a potential rezoning of land in their area at the Aug. 2 City Council meeting.

The bill would rezone 3 1/2 acres at the southeast corner of Lone Pine Avenue and Southern Hills Boulevard from single-family residential to Planned Development District No. 235. The planned development would include an 80-unit retirement home, to be developed by Essex Corp. a company based out of Omaha, Neb.

Bart Votava, a representative of Essex Corp., said that the residents of the facility would purchase their individual living units and that the building would be owned by a separate nonprofit corporation that would be owned by the residents. The residence would be open to people older than 62, Votava added.

The property to be rezoned is owned by Lee McLean and John Q. Hammons. Votava said the choice of a retirement home for the site was ideal because of the demographic make-up of its surrounding community.

Residents were concerned that the matter would be tabled, but that did not happen.

"I don't think it would be a good idea to table the bill. ... In the past, when we've held a public hearing on a bill, it's because the applicant is asking us for a decision," Carlson said.

Foremost among problems the neighbors cited was traffic: residents asked for a deceleration lane off of Lone Pine Avenue or widening of the thoroughfare in order to accommodate the additional traffic the facility would generate.

The street system report contained in the bill states that the streets are sufficient for the property's use.

"Trip generation is not enough to require any street improvements beyond the dedication of additional right of way. The street classifications require 35 feet of right of way from the Lone Pine centerline and 25 feet from the Southern Hills Boulevard centerline," the bill states.

According to the plan Essex Corp. submitted as part of the council bill, the facility will have two entrances from Lone Pine, one for guests and another for residents.

Residents of the Southern Hills neighborhood had wanted to purchase the land from McLean and Hammons for use as greenspace. Greg Dorshorst said the neighborhood offered $566,390 for the acreage, but were told in a letter from the owners that "the price is still $1.6 million."

"The history behind this project is that we have tried to do something among the neighbors. We have organized ourselves and have tried to look out for our area's best interests," Dorshorst said.

Jim Hansen said the neighborhood still stands by its offer of purchase. The neighborhood had planned to obtain funding through a Neighborhood Improvement District.

"Our purpose was to keep the area beautiful by developing a greenspace in the area. There is a resolve by the neighbors to accomplish that goal," Hansen said.

Hansen was among other residents who called the request one for "spot zoning."

In other council action, a measure to donate $5,000 to the James River Basin Partnership passed, with Councilman Bob Vanaman voting against.

Vanaman questioned whether the council should support nonprofits with taxpayer money.

"I don't think we were elected to spend taxpayer money on organizations that ought to be out raising funds or getting donations from other places," Vanaman said.

The council will have a luncheon meeting Aug. 24 to look at its past spending on nonprofits. Vanaman said he wants the city to eliminate or cut back such spending.

The bill originally contained a provision for a $15,000 contribution from City Utilities, to be combined with a $5,000 contribution from the city and a $5,000 contribution from Greene County. The language pertaining to the two other entities was struck, though.

"I understand the Greene County contribution has been approved, but we're just talking tonight about our $5,000 and whatever the CU board approves," Hacker said.

The bill was amended to reflect the change. It passed 8-1, with Vanaman against.

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