Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Rezoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves rezoning of former Ashland Healthcare building for multifamily use
Summary
The board approved rezoning roughly 4.38 acres at 300 S. Henry Clay Blvd from R-1 to R-3 to allow conversion of a former long-term care facility into about 26 rental units; council and staff discussed parking, sprinkler upgrades and Fair Housing Act limits on decisions based on clientele.
The City of Ashland board approved a rezoning request that will allow HCR Enterprises to convert a former long-term care facility at 300 S. Henry Clay Boulevard into roughly 26 rental units.
Presenter (planning staff) told the board that the parcel is about 4.38 acres and that the applicant, represented by architect Aaron West Hughes, plans mostly one-bedroom units (about 21 one-bedroom, 2 studios and 3 two-bedroom units). Staff said the future land-use map anticipated commercial uses at the site and recommended rezoning from R-1 (single-family) to R-3 (multi-family) because the existing building would otherwise need demolition to comply with R-1 use.
Council members and members of the public pressed staff and the applicant on parking and pedestrian safety. One council member asked whether the lot's roughly 40 existing spaces would be adequate for up to 26 units; planning staff responded that under the current code the requirement would be two spaces per dwelling unit, but the new code soon to be adopted reduces that requirement to one space per unit. The presenter noted the owner has a small remodel permit and that the Southern Boone Fire District flagged concerns about the building's sprinkler system, which the applicant is addressing.
A board member cautioned the council about making decisions based on the expected clientele, reminding colleagues of the Fair Housing Act's prohibitions on discrimination in housing decisions. Presenter and other members said site-plan review, building-code compliance and market forces can mitigate parking and tenant-management concerns.
After discussion, the chair called for a motion to approve Council Bill 2024-29 to rezone the described parcel from R-1 to R-3 for HCR Enterprises; the motion passed. The board recorded that planning and zoning commission had previously recommended approval and that staff supported the rezoning subject to compliance with building and life-safety requirements. The board did not adopt site-plan conditions in the rezoning motion; staff indicated remaining technical items (sprinkler repairs, final parking striping) would be addressed through permitting and site-plan review.
The matter will return to staff-level permitting for code compliance and any outstanding life-safety corrections before renovation work continues.
