Committee backs rezoning of 740 North Brookfield to allow residential occupancy for adjacent church

The Zoning & Annexation Committee voted to send Bill 42-25 to the committee of the whole with a favorable recommendation to rezone 740 North Brookfield from Industrial I to Urban Neighborhood 3, allowing the existing detached house on the parcel to be used for residential occupancy. Committee chair Dr. David announced the motion and the item advanced after a roll call vote of 6–0.

Mark Delistritto, the zoning specialist, presented the petition and told the committee that the property is currently zoned Industrial I but includes a detached house: "To rezone from I to, Urban Neighborhood 3 or U 3." He said the parcel sits in the Kennedy Park neighborhood and the 2022 neighborhood plan currently shows the parcel as industrial, but the detached house has existed "since about 1913." Delistritto said rezoning to U3 would align the parcel with nearby residential zonings and with objectives in the city's comprehensive plan, citing objective H‑2 and policy H‑2.3, and with Strategy 3 and action item 3.1 of the Kennedy Park neighborhood plan. He reported that the plan commission recommended the petition to the common council with a favorable recommendation.

Beatrice Alcoaster, speaking for the petitioner, said the congregation wants the house to become residential so the pastor and family can live there and so utilities and other needs for a household are available: "They the pastor and his family, need a place to live. So, they wanted to have the house become residential so we can have utilities and what is needed for the family to live there." Committee members asked whether the church's 501(c)(3) tax status would extend to the rezoned parcel; Delistritto replied he believed it would because the church would remain the owner.

There were no members of the public registered to speak for or against the rezoning during the committee public hearing. After members' questions the committee took a roll-call vote: Council member White — Aye; Council member Warner — Aye; Citizen member Henry Davis Jr. — Aye; Citizen member Stacy Odom — Aye; Committee vice chair Thomas Morgan — Aye; Committee chair Dr. David — Aye. The committee noted the plan commission's favorable recommendation and forwarded the bill accordingly.

The rezoning request centers on a single lot adjacent to a church at 739 College Street; the petitioner said the house to be occupied has historically existed on the lot and is intended to provide a residence for the church pastor. The committee did not adopt any additional conditions during the vote and did not receive public opposition in this session. The petition will next appear before the committee of the whole and then, if approved there, to the common council for final action.