Applicant seeks rezoning for half-acre on Richardson Road; neighbors warn of precedent

The Board of Commissioners heard a public hearing March 16 on a rezoning petition (RZ2026-002) for a half-acre parcel on Richardson Road south of Monroe.

Senior Planner John Weir explained the request is a straight rezoning from RA‑40 to R‑15, with no conditions. He said the county’s 2050 comprehensive plan designates the area as rural residential and noted the property previously contained a manufactured home with well and septic. Staff recommended denial based primarily on the comp plan designation and concern about setting a precedent; by contrast, the county planning board recommended approval in a Feb. 24, 2026 vote (6–1).

Thomas Perry, speaking during the hearing, said the planning meeting felt "strange," argued that approving the smaller lot would set a precedent and expressed concern about how the planning board handled compromises. The applicant, Amy Augustine, said she bought the lot in June 2025 after contacting county staff and was told the parcel was buildable because it had a prior residence, a separate address and valid well and septic permits issued by the Union County Health Department. Augustine said the half-acre had been carved out by the surrounding property owner, Mary Clark, for her son in 2004, and that the applicant and the land-use board had visited the elderly neighbor prior to the land use board meeting.

Commissioners asked whether the rezoning sought was only for the half-acre (the applicant said yes) and confirmed the lot already has a drive and valid septic and well permits. With no additional speakers, the chair closed the public hearing. No final vote on the rezoning was recorded in the meeting transcript that night.