Votes at a glance: East Ridge council approves zoning, facility and insurance measures; denies short‑term rental rezoning

The East Ridge City Council on May 20 handled a slate of zoning, facility and procurement items and several policy votes. Highlights: the council denied a rezoning request for 1512 John Ross Road that property owner Richard Altman said he intended to use for short‑term rentals; it approved first readings for two Gateway-area rezonings and for converting a Ringgold Road motel site into mixed‑use with retail and apartments; and it approved several resolutions including a sign variance, facility waivers for the East Ridge Optimist Club, purchase of kitchen equipment for Venue 1921, a monument sign design, and three insurance contracts.

Key outcomes

- Ordinance 12‑20 (rezoning request for 1512 John Ross Road to R‑2 duplex to allow short‑term vacation rental): Motion to deny passed (unanimous). The applicant, Richard Altman, sought rezoning to permit short‑term rentals; neighbors opposed the change and raised concerns about traffic, property values and neighborhood character.

- Ordinance 12‑17 (amend Zoning Board appointment language; second reading): Approved (roll call: Vice Mayor Tyler yes; Councilmember Cagle no; Councilmember Ezell no; Councilmember Witt yes; Mayor Williams yes).

- Ordinance 12‑18 (amend Housing Commission appointment language; second reading): Approved (same roll‑call pattern as 12‑17).

- Ordinance 12‑22 (rezoning tax map 169E‑D‑008, ~10.1 acres, C‑4 to RZ‑1 Lot Line Residential — “Magnolia Grove”): Passed first reading; planning staff and the applicant described the development as a down‑zoning to single‑family, zero‑lot‑line homes.

- Ordinance 12‑23 (rezoning 6419 McCall Road from R‑2 to C‑4 to integrate into Gateway development): Passed first reading.

- Ordinance 12‑21 (rezoning 6510 Ringgold Road — motel to C‑4 to allow 80 apartments + ~10,000 sq ft retail): Passed first reading. The developer presented plans for an 80‑unit apartment conversion with retail along Ringgold Road; council required a six‑month minimum lease condition in the rezoning conditions and noted a Border Region grant deadline of June 30, 2027.

- Resolution 36‑85 (sign variance for 3611 Ringgold Road / AK Roofing & More — allow two building‑mounted LED message centers): Approved (split vote). Staff raised concerns about light spill and precedent; the applicant cited limited space for a monument sign and offered to post city notices at no charge.

- Resolution 36‑86 and 36‑87 (facility waivers for East Ridge Optimist Club to use Deckard Pond, Camp Jordan and Community Center / City Hall parking lot and fee waivers): Approved. Vice Mayor Tyler abstained on the pond waiver due to his role with the committee.

- Resolution 36‑88 (purchase kitchen equipment for Venue 1921): Approved ($42,507.83 from a state contract vendor).

- Resolution 36‑89 (monument sign/logo option for Venue 1921): Option A approved.

- Resolutions 36‑90, 36‑91, 36‑92 (property/liability, workers’ compensation and cyber insurance purchases): Approved (carriers Public Entity Partners, Key Risk and Coalition Insurance Solutions respectively; staff noted competitive solicitations and corrected a typographical price error for workers’ compensation before the vote).

Procedural notes

Most zoning actions that required public hearings were opened and heard at the meeting; in several rezoning items applicants and members of nearby neighborhoods spoke at length. Several items on tonight’s agenda (12‑22, 12‑23, 12‑21) passed on first reading and will return for second reading per council procedure. The session also included consent items (minutes approval) and the council’s routine roll calls and announcements.

Votes and formal actions are recorded in council minutes and reflected in the city’s ordinance and resolution numbering cited above.