Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Rezoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County council defers rezoning request for Pleasant Road parcels after residents oppose change
Summary
York County Council deferred first reading of rezoning case 25-01 after multiple neighboring homeowners and their attorney urged denial, citing recorded restrictive covenants, traffic and infrastructure concerns.
York County Council deferred first reading of rezoning case 25-01 on March 3 after a string of residents and a homeowners association attorney urged council to deny a request to rezone three parcels at Pleasant Road and Lourcliffe Place from RSF-40 (single-family) to RMX-10 (residential mixed). The applicant requested a deferral before public testimony began; council voted to defer the item to the next meeting.
The rezoning request covered three parcels totaling 7.46 acres and included a sketch plan showing up to 15 new homes. County planning staff recommended denial, citing inconsistency with the York County comprehensive plan and future land use map, and noting surrounding lots are generally one to two acres or larger. Planning Commission had recommended denial 5–0.
Multiple nearby property owners told council the change would alter neighborhood character and worsen safety and traffic. Cam Halford, an attorney representing Clear Flow Estates Homeowners Association, said a 1978 declaration of restrictive covenants recorded in the Clerk of Court (Book 575, page 891) supports neighbors’ objections and asked council to follow staff’s recommendation. Several residents who live on Lower Cliff(e) Place and nearby streets described narrow, low-traffic roads, frequent pedestrian and stroller use, and existing congestion on Pleasant Road that they said new units would aggravate.
Council members asked staff to research deed restrictions and confirmed the applicant had asked to defer first reading. After public testimony and questions for staff about potential deed restrictions, the council voted to defer the first reading to the next meeting and asked legal staff to obtain and review the HOA declaration for the record.
Votes at a glance: The council motion to defer first reading to the next meeting passed unanimously; specific teller names and vote tallies were not recorded in the public transcript.
Background: Staff described the area as predominately RSF-40 and observed that RMX-10 allows lot sizes down to 10,000 square feet and multiplex dwellings, which neighbors said could be inconsistent with the neighborhood’s long-standing single-family character. Planning staff noted the applicant had requested the deferral but that the public hearing remained required and was conducted as noticed.
Next steps: The item will return for the next reading. Council directed legal staff to obtain and place on the record the HOA declaration and any recorded deed restrictions cited by commenters.
