Council hears proposal to rezone East 9 area; developer outlines $7M infrastructure plan

Staff introduced O-49-2024, a rezoning proposal for roughly 30.4 acres in the East 9/country-club area that splits the site into three subareas with differing setbacks and design guidelines. The proposal includes a new Subarea 3 that would allow a small gatehouse or sales office that could later be sold as a single-family dwelling.

Tom Ruby of The New Albany Company described the concept as a way to emphasize high-end architectural standards and said the project includes pavement changes, brick or granite pavers on boulevards, modified parking patterns and landscaping. He estimated more than $7 million in infrastructure work for the neighborhood refresh, including stormwater basin adjustments and wetland plantings.

Councilmembers pressed for renderings and wondered whether a 1,800–2,000-square-foot house in a corner location adjacent to the golf course would be appropriate as a permanent residence. Staff and the developer said those details will return in future submissions to the planning commission and architecture review board. There was discussion about tree-preservation zones, rear-yard utilities (staff said utilities were engineered into front yards to preserve trees), and the need to show how the proposal will fit with golf-cart crossings and existing brick walls.

No final action was taken; council asked staff and the applicant to provide more imagery and details at a subsequent meeting scheduled for Jan. 7.