Nevada council approves rezoning for former Story County Hospital despite heavy neighborhood opposition

The Nevada City Council voted to adopt Ordinance 10-64 to rezone the former Story County Hospital property to allow multi-family redevelopment, authorizing the project proponents to proceed to later site-plan steps.

The vote came after an extended public comment period in which dozens of residents and business representatives spoke for and against converting the old hospital into apartments. Supporters said the project would add housing and customers for downtown businesses; opponents said the plan would create parking and safety problems, amount to spot zoning and could degrade nearby property values.

Neighbors spoke repeatedly about traffic, parking and neighborhood character. Linda Bartleson, a Sixth Street resident, told the council: "The perception among taxpayers in this community is that input is solicited merely as a formality with decisions…