Council affirms zoning denial for 224 South Charles, citing parking and alley constraints

The Belleville City Council on Nov. 3 denied a request to rezone 224 South Charles Street from single‑family to multifamily to allow conversion to a five‑unit dwelling. The zoning board had recommended denial by a 4–1 vote; the council’s roll call vote supported the zoning board’s decision.

Speakers at the meeting, including Bill Lenny, said the zoning board had voted 4–1 to deny the application and that “the infrastructure in that neighborhood simply does not support a 5 unit apartment building,” citing narrow alleys, a fire hydrant that limits on‑street parking immediately in front of the property, and heavy morning and afternoon traffic from nearby Washington School. Lenny said the existing alley is effectively single‑lane and used for garage access for all homes on the block.

Representatives of the applicant, including Kelly Roberts of High Housing Solution, argued parking studies and mini traffic surveys show sufficient off‑street parking and predicted the renovated building would increase nearby property values and reduce blight. Roberts said the proposed tenants would be working professionals and that remediating a blighted property would benefit neighbors.

Council members who spoke in favor of denial said they had walked the neighborhood and observed extensive on‑street parking and constrained alley conditions; some said the proposal appeared more like an apartment building than a conversion and raised questions about mechanical and utility capacity in the cellar and for multiple units. On a roll call, the council voted to deny the rezoning request.

The zoning board’s recommendation and council action leave the property in its current A‑1 single‑family zoning; the record shows neighbors and both ward aldermen had opposed the rezoning at earlier hearings.