Plan Commission forwards rezoning requests for Sunset Hill and Maple Grove Baby Farms to commissioners, excluding several multifamily parcels

The Monroe County Plan Commission voted to forward positive recommendations to the Monroe County Board of Commissioners on petitions to rezone two adjacent neighborhoods — Sunset Hill and Maple Grove Baby Farms — from High Development Residential (HD) to Residential 1 (RES). The commission also recommended excluding specific parcels that are established multifamily developments from the rezones.

For the Sunset Hill petition (REZ-25-1), the commission—s motion, which passed 6–2, recommended removing 717–725 South Annalee Lane from the rezoning area to avoid creating nonconformities for an existing multi-family property. For the Maple Grove Baby Farms petitions (REZ-25-2 and REZ-25-3), the commission recommended excluding the following existing multifamily or large multifamily-parcel properties: 101 South Fairfield Drive (Hadley Village Apartments) and six additional parcels at 2542 West Evergreen Drive; 415 North Kimball Drive; 215 North Johnson Avenue; 325 North Johnson Avenue; 2312 West Beaumont Lane; and 120 South Kimball Drive. The motion for the Maple Grove items also passed 6–2.

Commission and staff background: planning staff said the rezones were requested by the Board of County Commissioners to correct map designations that were originally adopted as part of the county—s new County Development Ordinance and that reflected prior city zoning that had earlier applied to a —former fringe— area. Staff emphasized that rezoning from HD to RES would change dimensional standards -- minimum lot size (from 0.14 acres to 1 acre), minimum lot width (from 50 to 75 feet), side-yard setbacks (from 5 to 10 feet) and rear-yard setbacks (from 10 to 20 feet) -- although the CDO allows existing lots smaller than 1 acre to remain buildable if they meet setbacks and other standards.

Planning staff and commissioners discussed the practical effect of the rezones: many lots in the affected areas are under an acre and use septic systems, and a number of parcels lack sewer access; staff cautioned the commission about the number of preexisting nonconforming lots that could result but said parcel-by-parcel survey analysis would be time-consuming and uncertain because county GIS parcel lines are not survey-accurate.

Supporters from the neighborhoods urged the commission to preserve the established character of Sunset Hill, noting historic overlay designations and calling the area a distinct, older neighborhood. Commissioner Julie Thomas, who presented the petition on behalf of the Board of Commissioners, said the rezones are intended to correct an artifact of the long-past interlocal agreement that had left some county parcels assigned to city zoning. "Many of these properties are on septic and have historically functioned like single-family neighborhoods," Thomas said. She asked the commission to forward the petition so property owners in the area will have their interests considered at the county-commission level.

Opponents included representatives of Regency Multifamily, which owns Hadley Village Apartments and nearby property. Regency representatives urged exclusion of their adjacent lots beyond No. 101 South Fairfield Drive and asked for more time to discuss parcels served by sewer and to offer a plan for their properties.

The Plan Commission—s favorable recommendations are advisory; the final decision on all rezones rests with the Monroe County Board of Commissioners at a later public hearing. The Planning Department will provide notice to property owners and will forward the commission—s recommendations and recommended parcel exclusions to the commissioners for their consideration.