Commission postpones zoning request for former Hillview Elementary after neighborhood concerns

The Jefferson County Planning and Zoning Commission opened public comment on zoning case Z240061, a rezoning request for the former Hillview Elementary site at 1520 Cherry Avenue in Forestdale, but postponed action at the applicant's request.

Edward Brown, planning staff, summarized the applicant’s current proposal: the applicant — Steven Hardwick of Graceland Properties — amended an earlier plan for a senior living facility and is now proposing single-family dwellings in an R-2 zone. Staff described the submission as 14 single-family lots on 10,000-square-foot parcels with 100-foot lot widths, a proposed minimum house size of 1,300 square feet, a density the staff summarized as 2.12 dwelling units per acre and estimated price points of $250,000–$300,000. Brown said staff would withhold a formal recommendation while the proposal changes.

Several Forestdale residents told the commission they object to the current development concept and urged alternative uses for the parcel. Donna Reynolds, a Forestdale resident, said the neighborhood “does not have a community center. We don't have a library. We don't have anywhere for us to meet and congregate,” and urged use of the site for neighborhood services rather than housing. Lushona Guin, who said she has lived in Forestdale since age 16, said residents had not been sufficiently consulted and called the proposed housing “not the highest and best use of the land.”

Applicant Steven Hardwick said he and his team met with neighborhood representatives earlier in the process, revised the proposal after opposition to an initial 55-plus plan, and intend the current submission to produce 10–12 single-family homes with lot dimensions in the R-2 standard (Hardwick said he is preparing revised plats at 75-by-140 feet per lot to ensure compliance). Hardwick said the project will use existing access from Cherry Avenue and Egret Drive where allowed and that the design will be updated before the next hearing.

The commission chair granted the applicant’s request to postpone the case to a later meeting to allow the applicant to finalize revised plans and for residents to review materials; staff committed to posting the full proposal packet the Friday before the next public hearing so neighbors can review all materials in advance. The planning commission’s recommendation is advisory; a future hearing before the Jefferson County Commission will be required for a final zoning decision.