Decatur council denies rezoning request on Business 380 after neighbor objections

The Decatur City Council voted on May 11 to deny an ordinance that would have rezoned roughly 1.067 acres on Business 380 from light industrial to single‑family (SF‑2). Staff had recommended approval based on future land‑use findings; several adjacent property owners urged denial.

Representatives for adjacent property owners told council the area functions as a commercial and industrial gateway and warned a rezoning to residential could reduce the value and utility of neighboring lots. "Approving this zoning change means that well into the future ... there's going to be two houses and everything else up and down this road is going to be commercial, light industrial, retail," a property representative told the council.

Longtime landowner Cliff Brannon said the parcel has been in his family since 1943 and that he intends to build a retirement home on the site; he asked the council to respect his property rights. Other landowners, including Jeff Sikking and Kevin Haney, expressed concern that rezoning would undercut surrounding commercial plans and the city's gateway vision for Business 380.

After questions and debate about balancing property‑owner rights with the city's comprehensive plan and gateway goals, the council voted to deny the proposed ordinance and leave the zoning in place. The denial preserves the existing light‑industrial designation and maintains the city’s planning options for the Business 380 corridor.