Brownsville council approves first reading of rezoning, weighs land-use map amendments

Brownsville aldermen approved the first reading of a mixed-use rezoning request for two parcels along Anderson Avenue and discussed proposed amendments to the city's future land-use plan.

The council voted on Orders 1044 and 1045 during the meeting. Planning staff told the council the planning commission had recommended seven amendments to the future land-use plan adopted in July 2024 to reflect existing uses and anticipated projects.

Planning staff described the seven sections in turn: converting certain parcels from “important center” to town residential for properties (Motherton and Simmons); reverting parcels near Mulligan property to forestry/agriculture/rural residential because of existing apartments; redesignating a county gravel pit and an adjacent parcel from town residential to employment center to align with industrial uses; changing four commercial properties at Anderson Avenue and Haywood Street from town residential to town commercial; and converting areas along State Route 76 (Anderson Avenue and Marvin Chapel Grove) from forestry/agriculture/rural residential to town commercial to reflect existing and anticipated development. For Section 7, staff said the lot sizes and existing single-family houses on East Jefferson Street/Mercer Road supported reverting that area to forestry/agriculture/rural residential to protect existing housing stock and market value.

On Orders 1045 (rezoning) the council heard a conceptual presentation from the applicant, Green Dream Holdings LLC, proposing a mixed-use development on roughly 35 acres with 10 apartment buildings, 40 single-family cottages (some lakefront), three commercial buildings and a mixture of unit sizes. Planning staff stressed the presentation was a concept; a separate site-plan review and permits will follow if rezoning is approved. The planner noted about nine acres of the parcel fall within the special flood hazard area and that roughly 16 acres would remain as open space and stormwater detention.

Alderman Bishop asked whether changing the land-use designation would immediately change taxes; staff replied that tax classification depends on zoning and on an actual change in use or new construction, and the land-use plan itself does not alter taxes. The council approved the rezoning on first reading and sent the matters forward for further review and subsequent readings as required by city process.