Covington planners amend rezoning for former Anadale Plantation to CBD to allow boutique hotel and event venue

The City of Covington Planning and Zoning Commission approved a zoning change for 71495 Chestnut Street — the former Anadale Plantation site — amending the applicant’s requested regional commercial (CR) designation to central business district (CBD) to allow the property to be renovated and operated as a small boutique hotel and event venue.

City staff said the property is currently zoned CN and had lost nonconforming commercial status after being vacant for more than a year. The site covers about 5.11 acres, according to the petitioner’s application, and is located in Section 42, T-7-S R-11-E in the town of Claiborne within the City of Covington.

Bradley Cook of Sterling Properties, the petitioner’s representative, told commissioners the applicant is open to either CR or CBD but prefers CBD because it “serves our purpose” while avoiding the broader set of more intensive uses that CR would permit. “CBD serves our purpose. We do not have to have CR,” Cook said. He described plans to renovate the existing two-story structure (about a 30-foot height estimate) and operate a boutique hotel tied to wedding and event business; initial plans call for preserving the current room count and later phased additions if permitted.

Neighbor Charles Coombe, who said he lives at 71451 Chestnut Street, opposed the rezoning. Coombe raised historical objections to prior annexation and zoning for the site and said the property has a single entrance that funnels delivery and event traffic through his neighborhood. “I think it was a spot zoning to start with and spot annexation to start with because it was adjacent to no other City Of Covington property other than the river bottom,” Coombe said.

Commissioners discussed the range of uses allowed under CR and CBD zoning and the potential for more intense commercial activities under CR, including heavy equipment sales, automobile dealers and warehouses. A commissioner proposed approving the change but amending the requested CR to CBD “as it will provide less future intense uses.” The motion to approve the rezoning as CBD received a second and carried. The roll call recorded votes as: Commissioner Boone — yes; Commissioner Celestine — yes; Commissioner Bert Dubic — yes; Commissioner Bullock — yes; Commissioner Hudson — yes. Commissioner Hudson encouraged the applicant to work with neighbors.

At the meeting the applicant said Councilman Burrell Lehi had expressed support for the project. The petitioner did not provide a construction schedule; commissioners noted additional site-permit approvals and any future phases would be subject to separate permitting and review.