Commission approves first reading to rezone 4715 Riverbend Drive despite resident objections

Paula Privy, the city's planning director, presented Ordinance 25-529 requesting the rezoning of 4715 Riverbend Drive from agricultural (AA) to suburban residential single-family (SA). Privy said the Planning Commission recommended the rezoning and that the site condominium review was tabled to address street layout and drainage; she advised the city commission that legally it should consider only the rezoning question and not tie approval to a site plan.

Privy said, "It is my professional opinion that this rezoning is in line with the master plan," and explained the Planning Commission's view that developing undeveloped land in a neighborhood preservation designation should match surrounding character and density.

John Campbell, a Riverbend resident and attorney, gave public comment opposing the rezoning. He argued the rezoning conflicts with the city's master plan because, he said, language in the plan restricting increased density in neighborhood preservation areas had been removed in the staff memo. He said the request would "quadruple the density" allowed on the parcel, overload Riverbend Drive, and amounted to "spot zoning." "It's unconscionable," Campbell said.

Dale Cracker of JTB Homes described a preliminary site-condominium plan for roughly 18–19 acres and 27 lots, said the developer chose site condominium process to shorten state review timelines, and noted traffic-calming measures such as 90-degree bends to slow traffic.

After discussion, the commission moved and supported first reading of Ordinance 25-529 by voice vote.

Next steps: the ordinance's first reading passed; further site-plan review and engineering (including drainage and street layout) were deferred to subsequent planning processes and approvals.