The Board of Aldermen approved a rezoning map amendment on Aug. 7 to amend PUD 2-10 (rezoning case 427) for property at the corner of Nichols and Dude Ranch roads. City planner Carrie Patterson presented the request from RWK Real Estate LLC to expand the commercially zoned corner from 7.6 acres to 11.06 acres, convert 3.83 acres into three residential lots (each over one acre) and retain a 4.14-acre heavily wooded buffer that previously served as a fairway.

Patterson said the property had been part of the Sycamore Creek PUD and had never been developed as planned golf-course open space; the Carr family sold portions of the parcel and the Kelly family intends to locate a boat sales and service business at the corner, moving some commercial activity away from a lower section of Dude Ranch Road. "The buffer zone will be owned by RWK. They just can't develop it per the PUD, and it will stay wooded," Patterson said.

The planning commission recommended approval at its prior meeting. During the hearing, no public comments were offered. Alderman Rucker asked clarifying questions about ownership and access; Patterson said the three single-family lots will access from the Dogwood Park Estates road spur while commercial access will be from Nichols and Dude Ranch at the corner. The board voted to approve Bill 25-61 on first reading and passed the ordinance that night.