Council approves rezoning for 191 Van Drive over neighborhood objections, 6-3

Jackson City Council approved an ordinance on first consideration to rezone 5.03 acres at 191 Van Drive from RG‑1 (General Residential) to SC‑1 (Plan Unit Commercial Development), a 6‑3 vote that divided council members and local residents.

Developers and property owners Joel McAlexander and Colin Miller addressed the council in favor of the rezoning, arguing commercial use is the highest and best use of the parcel. “In our opinion, the best use for this property is the commercial,” Miller said, adding the site could generate substantially higher property tax revenue than residential development.

Neighbors and other residents urged the council to reject the change, citing concerns about drainage, traffic and neighborhood character. Todd Seroqui, a nearby resident, said developers “backed out on a handshake deal” with the country club and called the developer’s previous comments about producing “slum” housing offensive. Several speakers noted the planning commission did not forward a recommendation because it failed to receive the requisite votes.

City planning staff described the next steps if the rezoning is approved. The SC‑1 zoning would allow a predevelopment plan and, if that succeeds, a preliminary development plan to be reviewed by the planning commission and later detailed permitting, including required traffic and hydraulic (drainage) studies. Staff emphasized the city’s stormwater standard: developers must engineer site drainage to achieve “0 net increase” in runoff compared with predevelopment conditions; that mitigation would normally be accomplished with detention systems sized and engineered by licensed consultants.

Developers and several council members discussed attempts to reach a private agreement with Jackson Country Club concerning drainage, landscaping easements and other design controls. Alex Holman, who also represents the property owners, said parties had been “close to having an agreement” but that proposed written terms included additional approval language his attorneys would not accept. He said the owners “are the ones borrowing the money and taking the risks to develop it.” Opponents said material terms were changed after a first reading and that the country club withdrew its support.

Council members asked staff how traffic and drainage reviews will be handled. Planning staff said traffic engineers hired by developers prepare studies that are then reviewed by the city’s consultant; the state may require off-site improvements such as turn lanes or signals if warranted by traffic generation. The staff also said detention and retention pond sizing depends on engineered plans and the site’s hydrology.

The ordinance passed the council vote 6 to 3. Council members and staff noted a failed rezoning by property owner vote usually prevents the owner from re-submitting for 12 months, though city or staff-initiated actions differ. The vote does not authorize construction; it only changes the parcel’s zoning. Any subsequent site plan, traffic or drainage approvals will be subject to separate public review and technical checks by planning and engineering staff and the planning commission.