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Brooks council rejects rezoning for 185 Gable Road after residents raise environmental and infrastructure concerns
Summary
After a public hearing with multiple residents opposing a plan to split a 5.1-acre parcel, the Brooks Town Council voted 4–1 to deny a rezoning request that would have allowed two single-family lots at 185 Gable Rd.
The Brooks Town Council on June 26 rejected a rezoning request for 185 Gable Road, voting 4–1 against changing the property from RA (Residential Agriculture) to TR (Town Residential).
Multiple residents spoke at a public hearing, raising concerns about nearby creeks, erosion, siltation, limited fire hydrants and the loss of the town’s 5-acre minimum-lot character. Bridget Allen of 128 Julia Crossing opposed the rezoning, citing potential impacts to the creek and water availability; Cheryl Fleming of 1053 Highway 85 Connector urged the council to preserve the one-home-per-5-acre standard and noted worry about firefighting infrastructure. Several other neighbors, including Emily Johnson and Jason Barnett, also stated opposition.
Trent Foster, the property owner and builder, said the proposed site plan was intended to minimize impact on surrounding homes and to preserve the woods at the rear of the lot; he added that homes envisioned for the parcel would be about 2,500–2,800 square feet and priced in the mid-$500,000s. Mayor Daniel Langford and town staff noted the town’s 2022 Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map provides for this kind of rezoning request.
During discussion Mayor Langford also described the town’s limited water infrastructure: he said expanding municipal water service to new areas would carry an estimated cost of about $4.5 million and that current property tax revenues (noted in the minutes at roughly $4,687 per month) would not support an estimated monthly debt payment of about $16,000 without a sustainable tax increase.
Council Member Brian Davis moved to approve the rezoning; Council Member Ted Britt seconded. The motion failed on a 4–1 vote, with Davis voting in favor and Council Members Kay Brumbelow, Ted Britt, Scott Israel and Todd Speer opposed. The council did not adopt the rezoning and no additional action was recorded that night.
The record of the hearing and the council’s vote closes this item for now; applicants may pursue other administrative options or future requests consistent with town and county planning rules.
