Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Zoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Millville council denies Steward Land Company rezoning for 35-acre parcel, 4–1
Summary
After extended debate about lot sizes, infrastructure and the city’s General Plan, Millville City Council voted 4–1 on March 12 to deny Steward Land Company’s request to rezone a 35-acre parcel at approximately 400 South between 100 East and 200 East from Agricultural to a mix of R‑1 and R‑2. Councilmembers discussed water capacity, neighborhood character and a possible moratorium on future zone changes.
Millville City Council voted 4–1 on March 12 to deny Steward Land Company’s request to rezone a 35-acre parcel (03-035-0037) from Agricultural (A) to a mixture of Residential R‑1 and R‑2.
Brad Brown, representative from Steward Land Company, told the council the developer had “tried to listen to the comments from the previous request at the end of last year” and hoped to reach a compromise that would work for both the company and the community. The proposal would have allowed a range of lot sizes; proponents said the plan tried to accommodate both smaller lots and larger lots at the edge.
The Planning Commission had held a public hearing on March 4 and unanimously recommended the council deny the rezone application. Councilmembers spent much of the March 12 discussion focused on infrastructure and how new development would fit with Millville’s character. Mayor David Hair responded directly to public concern about water availability, saying, “Millville City does have the water to support growth,” contradicting a recent local newspaper report that the mayor said was in error.
Councilmember Pamela June said she favored preserving more of the agricultural feel near the south end of town and described an approach used elsewhere with progressively larger lots along the edge of a development. “I don’t think this area is ready for the amount of development that would come if the proposed zoning were approved,” June said. Councilmember Jeremy Ward urged the council to work with a willing developer rather than lose an opportunity to influence outcomes and stressed preserving what he described as Millville’s small-town character.
After debate, Councilmember Pamela June moved to deny the zone-change request; Councilmember Darcy Ripplinger seconded. The motion passed 4–1 with Councilmembers June, Ripplinger, Jacob Ames and Ryan Zollinger voting yes and Councilmember Ward voting no. Mayor Hair recommended the council consider a moratorium on zone-change applications until the city completes an update to its General Plan.
The council’s action stops the current rezoning request; any future subdivision proposal for the parcel would require a new application and the full engineering and environmental reviews that accompany subdivision reviews. The minutes and public attachments include a draft resolution labeled RESOLUTION 2026-1; the meeting record documents that the council’s vote at the March 12 meeting was to deny the rezone request. The council signaled it will take up a possible moratorium and pursue a General Plan update before considering similar applications.
What happens next: The council asked staff to pursue funding for a General Plan update and said it will consider a moratorium on zone-change petitions at the next meeting.
