Rezoning request for Parish Chapel Road postponed pending engineered PUD and water/fire feasibility

The commission postponed consideration of a rezoning request for roughly 19 acres on Parish Chapel Road, submitted by Hart B&B 1 LLC (Jonathan Wackenhut), after staff said the proposal needs a sealed planned-unit-development (PUD) prepared by a licensed engineer and further evaluation of utility and fire-protection feasibility.

Planner staff explained that a rezoning to RR (rural residential) triggers Article 7.4 requirements, including a preliminary and final planned-unit-development plan that must be prepared and sealed by an engineer. Staff specifically flagged concerns about utility services: the applicant’s submittal shows many on-site septic drains and staff has not evaluated feasibility. For overnight habitation the state fire code treats such uses like a hotel/community assembly, which in many cases requires a 6-inch water tap for fire protection; without that service the project would face state-level requirements that pre-empt local authorities.

Applicant Jonathan Wackenhut agreed to produce the necessary engineering work. Commissioners suggested postponement pending submittal of engineered plans and floodplain information; the motion to postpone carried by voice vote. Commissioners also discussed an option to phrase the postponement so that returning the application would not penalize the applicant with additional fees ("deny without prejudice" was discussed and staff confirmed postponement, not denial, is appropriate).

Next steps: the applicant must submit sealed engineering plans addressing Article 7.4 criteria and any required water/fire-protection documentation before the commission will consider the rezoning request again.