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Wellsville council holds public hearing on proposed rezoning of 50-acre parcel; decision postponed
Summary
The Wellsville City Council on June 4 held a public hearing on a request from property owner Dave Bankhead to rezone roughly 50 acres between about 900 South and 1100 South, from Center Street to 200 West, from ROS 1 (Residential Open Space 1) to RSF (Residential Single-Family).
The Wellsville City Council on June 4 held a public hearing on a request from property owner Dave Bankhead to rezone roughly 50 acres between about 900 South and 1100 South, from Center Street to 200 West, from ROS 1 (Residential Open Space 1) to RSF (Residential Single-Family). The council did not decide the request and voted to continue the item until staff and the city’s consulting planners complete additional analysis.
The rezone application, associated with tax IDs 10-040-0001 and 10-039-0004, was introduced by staff. Scott (staff) said the planning commission had not issued a formal recommendation because the city planner’s report and consultant input were not ready; the council therefore proceeded only to take public comment. Applicant Dave Bankhead told the council, “we don't have the intention of doing anything with it other than a rezone at this time.”
The public comment period drew more than a dozen speakers. Several residents urged the council to retain the existing ROS 1 zoning to preserve open space, reduce traffic impacts and limit strain on water and first-responder services. Russ Glenn said he would “like to see it stay zoned the way it is now,” and asked how many lots the rezone would produce. Scott explained the city's density multipliers and later provided ballpark figures: RSF could yield as many as about 142 homes on the parcel, while ROS 1 would yield far fewer (Scott cited 43 homes under ROS 1; ROS 1 half and other multiplier variants were also discussed).
Sandy Lewis warned of traffic and visual impacts: “Think about the traffic we already have in Wellsville. You put 200 homes in there, you've got 400 cars.” Jonathan Daddich raised fire and EMS concerns, saying higher residential density could increase emergency calls and maintenance costs for apparatus. Chelsea Dattich summarized residents' views: “It's not that we don't want homes...We want people to experience what Wellsville is as it is now.” Clay Isom said he supported Bankhead’s property rights but questioned whether rezoning would be reversible: changing zoning “opens the door” to future development.
Council members and staff discussed site specifics during the hearing. Scott said the parcel is about 50 acres and explained how ROS 1’s 40% required open space translates into acreage reserved for open space; he noted that ROS 1’s clustering rules and RSF’s lot-size rules affect how many lots could be created. Multiple speakers raised water supply and well ownership as practical constraints: staff said the city is negotiating purchase/contract details for the new well site and that design and bidding for the well house and line will go out for bid later in the summer.
After public comment, the council voted to continue the item until staff and consultants provide a formal planning commission recommendation and additional analysis; staff indicated they expect further consultant work and that planning and zoning will revisit the request (staff told the council the consultant input would not be available before August). The council scheduled a future public hearing once the planning commission recommendation is ready.
The council’s continuation preserves the existing zoning while staff and consultants complete their review and gives residents another formal opportunity to comment at a future hearing.
