The Planning and Zoning Commission met Tuesday, May 28, at 1 p.m. to consider the request to rezone three parcels from R-3 (Medium Density Residential) to C-4 (Neighborhood Commercial.)
First, a public hearing was held to consider the parcels at Harness Street and Bunker Road intersection. No one spoke against the proposal.
Dr. Rob Wilkinson spoke on behalf of the three property owners and said, “Dr. Mark Whitmore would like to relocate Boone County Animal Clinic currently at Hwy. 62/65 to the site. We’ve outgrown the current facility and are looking to upgrade our facilities.”
After the public hearing, the commissioners called the Planning and Zoning meeting to order. The City’s Chief Operations Officer, Engineer Wade Phillips, reported he had received three citizen comments showing concern about the noise levels and cleanliness of the proposed location for a veterinary clinic. Wilkinson returned to the mike and said, “We’ve never had any complaints from our current neighbors, but that is a valid concern. We don’t board animals, and there are no outside kennels. We will have an outdoor area where we can walk the dogs. We are also considering an artificial surface to aid in cleanliness. But I don’t see the noise issue as a factor.”
The commissioners voted unanimously to recommend approval of rezoning the three parcels at the corner of Bunker Road and Harness Street to C-4. This request will be forwarded to the City Council Committees on Thursday, June 13.
A request to rezone 809 S. Pine Street property was under old business. The current zoning is C-2 (Office Commercial), which allows for up to 10,000 square feet of retail space. Phillips explained the proposed business owner would need 12,000 square feet and is asking for the zone change to make way for a Dollar General.
Audience members asked if they could address the request, but Chairman Brown said the public hearing had been held and was closed. The public hearing for the 809 S. Pine Street property was held prior to the April commission meeting; the rezone request was tabled during the April meeting.
The commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the zone change, which will be forwarded to the City Council Committee meeting on Thursday, June 13, at 6 p.m. Citizens can sign up to make comments at that meeting under agenda items or citizen comments at the end of the meeting.
In conclusion, Phillips updated commissioners on new state legislation regarding the operation of data centers in the state. He explained that the new law basically bolstered the city’s zoning code, and no new action was necessary at the time.
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