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Board delays vote on Blackburn Holdings rezoning after developer presentation and neighbor concerns over buffer
Summary
The board held a second reading and public hearing for Blackburn Holdings' request to rezone roughly 324 acres with a mix of suburban corridor, suburban multifamily and neighborhood residential; developer representatives described conservation areas and proposed a 150‑foot buffer (open to increasing), and after public comment the board deferred action to the next meeting.
At Oct. 21's meeting the Mayor and Board of Aldermen conducted a second reading and public hearing on a zoning map amendment filed by Blackburn Holdings (application to rezone approximately 324 acres east of Highway 7). Paul (Precision Engineering) presented the applicant's case and David Blackburn, the applicant, spoke briefly about long‑range planning and timelines.
Paul told the board the rezoning would create a mix of suburban corridor, suburban multifamily and neighborhood residential districts to reflect recent area growth and transportation improvements. He said the application includes two conservation districts and a proposed 150‑foot green‑space buffer adjacent to existing residential properties, and he said the applicant would consider widening the buffer (to 200 feet or more) where topography and creek beds make that appropriate. "We are proposing...a same width, 150 foot buffer adjacent to the property that's zoned commercial...our applicant is happy to accommodate that," Paul said.
Resident Heather McGeer Tony, who identified herself and gave her address, thanked the developer for follow‑up meetings and said the newly proposed buffer and conservation protections addressed neighbors' concerns; she also urged the board to reexamine density assumptions in the city's ordinances. Board members asked technical questions about available multifamily zoning elsewhere in the city, the acreage proposed for suburban multifamily (about 85 acres), and whether there are active development plans; David Blackburn said he has no immediate plans and estimated buildout would likely be years away.
Following the presentations and public comment, the mayor asked whether the board wished to proceed to a vote at the meeting; no motion to proceed was made. The mayor said the item will return for the next meeting's continued reading and a vote will be scheduled then. The board did not approve or reject the rezoning at this meeting.
