Developer asks Kennett Council to rezone former Twin Rivers site for EV chargers and food court

A representative for the owner of the former Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center site asked the Kennett City Council to support rezoning part of the property so the owner can install electric-vehicle chargers and create a small food-court area.

David Sweeney, who identified himself as representing the property owner, told the council that the parking lot west of the main site sits in a residential zoning district and that the city’s zoning and planning committee indicated they would consider rezoning a subdivided portion of the lot for commercial use. Sweeney said subcontractors have requested to begin work on chargers but were denied because the parcel’s current residential zoning bars the proposed use.

Sweeney said he submitted a rezoning application to the zoning and planning committee, met with members on Jan. 30 and Feb. 4, and returned on Feb. 10 to address concerns. He said the committee signaled it would approve rezoning if the applicant first subdivided the west parking lot between Second and Third streets and sought rezoning for that isolated parcel, but the committee did not commit to rezoning the full 9.6 acres given concerns the owner might develop the parking area but not renovate the main building.

A council member explained the process: the zoning commission will vote to make a recommendation to the council; if and when the commission issues its recommendation, the applicant will be notified and the matter will come to the council for a public hearing. Sweeney said he requested an additional meeting with the committee to resolve outstanding questions and asked the council to help move the application forward.

No zoning decision was made at the meeting. The council did not schedule the rezoning application for a public hearing during this session.