Clayton council approves rezoning for 173-townhome Amelia Church Road development in 3–2 vote

The Clayton Town Council voted 3–2 May 5 to approve a rezoning that would allow 173 single‑family attached townhomes on a parcel along Amelia Church Road, south of Shore Johnson Road.

The approved rezoning would change the site’s zoning from OFI (Office/Institutional) to a conditional residential district, with a gross density of 8.72 units per acre. Council also directed staff to update the town’s future land‑use map to reflect the new designation if the rezoning is finalized.

Planning Director Conrad Olmedo told council the rezoning application had completed its public‑hearing phase and returned with a revised concept plan and updated conditions of approval. Olmedo said the revised concept shows alley‑loaded units in multiple blocks, added on‑street parking by adjusting curb lines, a private parking area to be maintained by the homeowners association (HOA), and architectural modulation commitments intended to reduce the appearance of continuous rooflines.

Neil Ghosh, attorney for the applicant, Tribute Companies, said the project upgrades the perimeter buffers compared with an earlier entitlement on the property. "Wehave upgraded them to type C buffers," Ghosh said, noting the change increases required plantings and adds an opaque privacy fence.

Among conditions summarized during deliberation were: a 20‑foot type C perimeter…