2002-13 REZONING PROPERTY - 900 BLOCK OF SOUTH FRANKLIN STREET - NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

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Excerpts from City Plan Commission Minutes of March 7, 2002 Cal. No. 02-13 Petition of NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING DEVELOPMENT I CORPORATION, 1468 East Wood Street, to rezone the premises in the 900 BLOCK of SOUTH FRANKLIN STREET from R-5 Two Family Residence District to O-1 Office District. Mr. Van Steenhuyse presented the recommendation of staff: The Neighborhood Housing Development Corporation(NHDC)plans to build ten townhouses I, for rental to low/moderate income families on four lots at the corner of North Franklin Street and I East Cleveland Avenue. The total area of the proposed development is 24,000 square feet. The ' ' main access to the housing units is from Cleveland Avenue. On June 7, 2001, City Plan Commission approved a rezoning petition from NHDC requesting the rezoning of the lots in the subject property from R-5, Two Family District, to O-1, Office District. The remainder of the property was already in the O-1 District. The purpose for the rezoning was to allow the multi-family use. The Planning Division approved a site plan submitted by NHDC detailing the development in November 2, 2001. In January 2002,NHDC purchased a lot to the north of the proposed development. This lot is zoned R-5. According to the approved site plan of the development, the proposed housing units are connected. NHDC intends to separate the development into two buildings with five units in each building. The petitioner also proposes adding more green space and a childre�s play area. The addition of the lot to the north facilitates this new design and adds open space to the development. The Decatur Urban Area Land Use Map depicts the area in question as commercial. The other lots owned by NHDC have been rezoned O-1 Office District. The subject property will be part of the development proposed for the corner of North Franklin Street and Cleveland Avenue. Due to the presence of only one fire hydrant in the area, the Decatur Fire Department is concerned about fires in the proposed development. Fire Department staff proposes the installation of a hydrant at the alley off of the 24 inch main which runs along Cleveland. This issue will be resolved as part of the site plan approval. The proposed rezoning does not conflict with the Comprehensive Plan. The proposed townhouse development would not have a negative impact on the area and would help meetNHDC's and City's goals of providing affordable housing. Rezoning the subject property will allow for better utility of the site and result in a more functional and aesthetically pleasing development. Staff recommends approval of the petition as submitted. Mr. Claypool asked why the zoning of O-1 rather than R-6. Mr. Van Steenhuyse stated that the adjoining property is zoned O-1 which allows multi-family development. The petitioner was given a choice between R-6 and O-1 and chose rezoning to al. The number of proposed townhouses for this petition will not change.