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Rezoning for 300 S. Henry Clay Boulevard fails after council vote
Summary
Council rejected a proposal to rezone the former Ashland Healthcare building for multifamily housing after a roll-call vote and questions about tenant type and safety features; the developer may refile the request on a future agenda.
A proposal to rezone about 4.38 acres at 300 South Henry Clay Boulevard from R-1 (single-family) to R-3 (multifamily) failed after a council vote Wednesday.
Community development staff told the council the applicant intends to convert the former Ashland Healthcare long-term care facility into roughly 26 mostly one-bedroom apartments. Staff said the Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval but noted Southern Boone Fire Department concerns about the existing sprinkler system, which staff said is being addressed.
The building owner, Matt, one of the two owners from Columbia, described planned interior work: combining patient rooms into apartments, installing full kitchens and new appliances, new flooring and paint, and estimated rent in the $1,000–$1,200 range (excluding utilities). He told the council the owners do not intend to accept Section 8 vouchers and are targeting tenants who can pay market rent.
Council members pressed staff and the applicant about tenant types and neighborhood impacts. Staff said neighbors had raised concerns about potential parties and ‘undesirable’ tenants, but the developer said no outdoor patios or gathering spaces are planned that would back up to neighboring yards. Staff emphasized that, although the future land-use map had anticipated commercial use, renovating the existing structure to housing would make efficient use of an otherwise vacant building.
When the council called for a vote on council bill 2024-24 to rezone the property, the chair recorded roll-call responses before stating the measure “fails.” Council discussed options for revisiting the matter; staff and the city attorney said the item could be refiled as new business with a new bill number or, in limited circumstances, a motion to reconsider could be made by a member of the prevailing side.
The council did not adopt the rezoning at this meeting. The developer and staff may return the proposal as a new agenda item if they choose.
