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Madison County Board upholds denial of rezoning for 740 E. Airline Drive after residents’ objections
Summary
The Madison County Board voted 27‑1 April 15 to deny a request to rezone 740 E. Airline Drive from R‑3 single‑family residential to B‑2 general business (Z19‑0059). Neighbors had submitted 204 petition signatures and warned rezoning could pave the way for alcohol sales and video gaming.
The Madison County Board voted 27‑1 on April 15 to deny a petition to rezone 740 E. Airline Drive in Wood River Township from R‑3 single‑family residential to B‑2 general business (Resolution Z19‑0059).
The vote upholds the Madison County Zoning Board of Appeals finding and came after public comments read into the record opposing the change. Pat Devening, a 50‑year Rosewood Heights resident who identified herself as a local school board member, submitted a written comment noted in the record that the community circulated a petition with 204 signatures (182 from Rosewood Heights) opposing the change and warning that a B‑2 classification would allow a wide range of commercial uses including alcohol and gaming. “Please vote NO to rezone from R‑3 to B‑2!” Devening wrote in the comment read by the county clerk.
Pastor Steve Woodson of River Bend Calvary Chapel, an adjacent property owner, told the board the corner store is used by youth and softball teams and said rezoning could change the character of the business. “There are plenty of places on Airline Drive in which customers may purchase alcohol, but there is only one place that a parent can send their kids to buy milk and bread,” his written comment said.
On the board, district member Matt King spoke against changing the zoning, stressing the volume of local opposition. Planning and Development Committee chair Mick Madison asked that the item be returned to committee to explore options; he later withdrew that request and the board proceeded to the final vote.
The board’s formal action was to adopt the resolution affirming the Zoning Board of Appeals recommendation to deny the rezoning petition. The motion passed 27 in favor, 1 opposed (Madison). No amendments or alternative zoning designations were adopted at the meeting.
What happens next: Because the board upheld the denial, any future change would require a new application or a different procedural path through the zoning and planning process. The transcript records residents’ continuing concern that a rezoning could enable future liquor or gaming licenses; the board did not vote on any liquor‑license application at this meeting.
The item was listed on the April 15 agenda as Z19‑0059 and the public comments opposing the rezoning were entered into the official record.
