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Planning commission recommends council deny annexation and residential rezoning of 72‑acre Zincer Road parcel
Summary
The commission recommended the town council deny annexation and a request to rezone a 72‑acre parcel on Zincer Road to protected residential, citing the comprehensive land use plan designation as employment/light industrial and prior denials of residential proposals. The recommendation now goes to council.
The Town Election and Planning Commission on May 20 recommended that the town council deny a petition to annex and rezone roughly 72 acres on Zincer Road for residential development.
Robin Jones, speaking for the Gates family, told the commission the parcel has been marketed for about eight years with no industrial buyers and that family members hope to sell the land for residential development to provide funds needed for family members’ medical and personal needs. Jones asked either for annexation with a protected residential (PR) zoning designation or for water and sewer to be provided without annexation so the family could pursue residential buyers.
Planning staff and commissioners said the commission’s authority is limited to zoning and annexation recommendations and that water and sewer service requires annexation and town council action. Staff pointed to the town’s comprehensive land use plan, which shows the site as intended for employment/light industrial uses designed to accommodate industrial, office, and flex‑tenant development. Commissioners noted the town previously denied multiple residential submittals for the site and emphasized that the comp plan and surrounding industrial uses shaped the staff recommendation.
Several commissioners suggested alternatives the family could pursue, including a planned unit development (PUD) or split zoning with local commercial frontage and residential behind, and one commissioner asked the family to bring a site plan if they want the commission to reconsider zoning. Jones said the family has repeatedly presented plans and experienced what she described as “deal fatigue,” and that earlier proposals were turned down at staff, commission, or council levels.
After discussion a commissioner moved to recommend denial of annexation and the requested zoning classification to the town council; the motion was seconded and the commission carried the recommendation (the minutes record the motion as carried and one opposed was noted). The recommendation will be considered by town council at its next regular meeting; council has the deciding vote on annexation and zoning at first reading and any subsequent public hearing.
The commission also noted the town will revisit the comprehensive plan during the next five‑year review, which could reopen questions about future land‑use designations in the area.
