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Committee upholds CPC recommendation and sends rezoning request for Garden Block property to formal review
Summary
Tina Castleberry, owner of Garden Block, sought to rezone two Davidson parcels from R‑3 to B‑2 for retail use; after planning staff said R‑3 allows nonprofit, childcare or other residential uses and recommended alternatives, the committee moved to send the CPC denial to formal with discussion and asked departments to coordinate follow‑up.
The committee took up a contested rezoning request from Tina Castleberry, owner of the Garden Block, who asked the city to rezone properties at 4213 and 4225 West Davidson from R‑3 (residential) to B‑2 (local business) so she could continue garden‑center operations.
Castleberry told the committee she draws customers from across the region and needs outdoor space for inventory that is only used seasonally; she expressed frustration that prior options proposed by staff (other city lots or pop‑up spaces) would not accommodate her needs.
Planning Director Alexa Bush and City Planning Commission staff recommended alternatives, noting that R‑3 already allows several community‑serving uses (including some nonprofit, childcare or shelter uses) and that bringing the structure into code compliance could allow uses consistent with R‑3. Bush said the Land Bank could be asked to amend the purchase terms if a different permitted use is required. Castleberry said she preferred to keep the facility on Davidson if possible.
The committee discussed outstanding code violations and citations (Castleberry said she had roughly $1,800 in blight tickets for mulch and signage) and asked city staff and the ombudsman to follow up. Member Johnson said she would submit a memo to DEGC raising concerns about process and asked that staff report back.
Outcome: The committee voted to send the CPC’s recommendation (a denial of the rezoning as presented) to formal with discussion and directed staff to work with Castleberry, CPC and other departments to explore options, compliance steps and whether tickets could be resolved administratively or in blight court.
Representative quote: “We want to ensure that this doesn't happen again,” a committee member said, urging safeguards and closer coordination between departments.
Next steps: Departments will meet with Castleberry and the ombudsman’s office to try to identify a path to compliance or an alternative site; the item will be taken up in formal session following that follow‑up work.
