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Property owner asks Wellsville to rezone 50 acres; residents warn of traffic, water and loss of open space
Summary
At a June 4 Wellsville City Council meeting, property owner Dave Bankhead asked to rezone roughly 50 acres from ROS‑1 (1‑acre open‑space lots) to RSF (12,000‑sq‑ft single‑family lots). Residents cited concerns about as many as 142 homes, water supply, traffic and emergency response; council continued the hearing pending a staff/consultant report.
Property owner Dave Bankhead asked the Wellsville City Council on June 4 to rezone roughly 50 acres near Center Street from ROS‑1 (residential open space, one‑acre density with 40% dedicated open space) to RSF (residential single‑family, 12,000‑square‑foot minimum lots), saying he currently has no immediate plans to develop the land but wants the zoning changed now to settle the family’s long‑term plans.
"We don't have the intention of doing anything with it other than a rezone at this time," Bankhead said, adding that he and his siblings want to complete the “legwork” while they are still able to manage it themselves.
The proposal prompted a lengthy public hearing in which many nearby residents urged the council to keep the ROS‑1 open‑space designation. Residents repeatedly raised traffic and water concerns and questioned whether rezoning would effectively lock in future development. "If you put 200 homes in there, you've got 400 cars," said Sandy Lewis, noting current difficulties entering the highway and a desire to preserve mountain views. Tana Hall recalled an earlier rezoning she said she did not receive notice of and said rezoning can permanently change neighborhood character.
City staff and council members provided technical context. Scott Wells told the council that, depending on the multiplier used for density calculations, staff estimates range from about 43 homes (ROS‑1 multiplier) to roughly 142 homes under RSF (staff used a multiplier of 2.85 to estimate 142 homes for RSF on the roughly 50‑acre parcel); an intermediate ROS‑1‑half scenario produced a different estimate (about 90 homes). Wells also said planning commission had not issued a recommendation because the city planner lacked a staff report and that the council could not finalize a decision without that recommendation.
Several speakers raised infrastructure concerns. Jonathan Daddich, a volunteer first responder, said adding hundreds of homes would strain local volunteer EMS and fire resources and increase maintenance costs. Others noted reduced domestic water pressure since nearby subdivisions were built and questioned whether the new well the city is designing would be sufficient.
The council and staff emphasized process and timing: the request has been advertised as a public hearing, but planning and zoning continued deliberation until a staff and consultant report is complete. Council member (speaker 7) moved to continue the item so staff can get consultant input and a planning‑commission recommendation; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. Wells confirmed the council will schedule another public hearing after the planning commission and the consultant deliver their findings and will notify interested parties.
What happens next: the council left the matter open for further study and public comment. Planning and zoning staff said they expect consultants to deliver input before the council’s next substantive action; the council set no final vote at the June 4 meeting.
