Council approves text amendment requiring special‑use permits for multifamily in TR and tables 56 Brownwall Road hearing to April 3

The Selma Town Council on March 6 approved an ordinance text amendment to correct permitting procedure language and requires multifamily development in the Transitional Residential (TR) zoning district to obtain a special‑use permit. Council then opened a quasi‑judicial hearing on a proposed major subdivision at 56 Brownwall Road, accepted public evidence and testimony, and voted to table the hearing until 6 p.m. on April 3 while leaving the evidentiary record open.

Text amendment Planning staff presented ordinance text amendment 2022‑0005‑O to fix a prior mismatch between the ordinance text and the table of permitted uses so that multifamily development in TR is listed as requiring a special‑use permit (SUP) rather than being shown as permitted by right. Taylor, the planning technician, said the change is a statutory‑procedure correction and recommended using the legislative procedure to correct the error.

Council moved, seconded and voted in favor of the amendment. The motion on the record was approved with a vocal aye; no roll‑call tally was provided on the transcript.

Quasi‑judicial hearing — 56 Brownwall Road The council opened a quasi‑judicial evidentiary hearing on a petition to subdivide an approximately 7.5‑acre property at 56 Brownwall Road into three or more lots (a major subdivision). Planning staff said the site plan meets most lot requirements but noted right‑of‑way access will need confirmation; the applicant indicated the road‑maintenance/access issue will be addressed with legal counsel.

Several nearby residents gave testimony and submitted photographs into the evidentiary record. Common concerns included flooding and drainage on the existing easement and yards, increased traffic on a narrow rural road, proximity of lots to existing homes and compatibility with the area’s rural character. Resident Jandra Worley, who lives at 52 Brownwall Road immediately adjacent to the site, submitted photographs and said the easement “floods my mom’s whole backyard” and expressed concerns about privacy and safety. Richard Shepherd of 1381 Brownstar Road told council that runoff from new development will flow into Little Creek and said the subdivision would worsen chronic flooding. Jennifer Edwards of 165 Brownwall Road asked council to consider the area’s agricultural and rural designation and expressed concerns about septic systems and infrastructure.

At the applicant’s request, council voted to table the hearing and leave the evidentiary phase open so the applicant may supply additional materials addressing the right‑of‑way and road‑maintenance agreement. Council set the continuation for 6 p.m. on April 3 and ordered the clerk to retain submitted exhibits for the record.

Ending: The text amendment was adopted to correct permitting language in Chapter 17, Article 4. The 56 Brownwall Road subdivision hearing remains open with public evidence admitted; council will reconvene the hearing April 3 to consider supplemental evidence and the applicant’s response on access and road maintenance.