Council hears lengthy staff, developer and neighborhood debate over proposed townhomes at 106–108 South Lee Street

Madison Homes on Tuesday presented a rezoning application for 106 and 108 South Lee Street that would rezone two R‑1A lots to the city’s transitional zone (T‑1) and allow construction of 12 for‑sale townhomes, prompting extensive questions from staff, the developer and council about plan consistency, neighborhood character, infrastructure and proffers.

Why it matters: The lots sit at the southern edge of the West Broad Street planning opportunity area and are designated “transitional” on the future land‑use map. City staff told council the applicant’s proposal is inconsistent with the comprehensive plan and the West Broad Street small area plan because the plans envision deeper, consolidated parcels for commercial or mixed‑use redevelopment along West Broad, and because the small area plan calls for a structured approach to transitions from the commercial corridor into established single‑family neighborhoods.

Staff presentation: Henry Zhang, the lead reviewer for the case, told council the two parcels total roughly 0.5 acre — 106 South Lee Street at about 0.24 acre and 108 at about 0.26 acre — and are presently zoned R‑1A with existing houses dating from 1927 and 1978. Zhang said staff found the proposed residential townhome use “inconsistent with the planned future land use for those properties,” and he cited the small area…