Rome commission approves multiple rezoning requests, citing long-standing uses and rehabilitation plans

The Rome City Commission approved a slate of rezoning requests on first-file consideration, moving five separate cases forward after staff presentations and brief public hearings.

Planning staffer Bryce Wood presented the cases, noting staff recommendations of approval and planning commission support in each instance. Z26-06-01 and Z26-06-02 would rezone adjacent properties from multi-family residential to neighborhood office commercial to allow continued small-office uses; Z26-06-05 concerns a landlocked lot on North Avenue where applicants plan to rehabilitate an existing structure; Z26-06-06 and Z26-06-07 address properties on Asbury Drive, correcting zoning to suburban residential or recognizing existing multi-family uses so owners can sell or secure financing.

Susan Elam, speaking in favor of Z26-06-01, said the businesses at the address "have gone in there close to 30 years" and asked the commission to let the long-standing small-office uses continue. Seller representative Tom Sepp said for the Asbury Drive items that lenders would not approve loans while properties remained nonconforming and urged the commission to correct the zoning.

Each rezoning was moved, seconded and approved on roll call; the transcript records affirmative votes from commissioners present. Staff said approvals will allow applicants to pursue rehabilitation, refinancing or continued office use in line with the staff recommendations.

What happens next: These first-file approvals permit applicants to continue with the second-reading process (and any required permitting) so owners may pursue building repairs, financing or licensing under the newly confirmed zoning.