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Mayor urges active city planning, proposes two‑zone approach to ease 5‑acre rule
Summary
Gholson’s mayor presented a two‑zone planning proposal to address repeated variance requests and the 5‑acre minimum, urging creation of a comprehensive plan and reconstituting planning & zoning to guide future subdivision decisions.
Gholson’s mayor presented a city planning and zoning proposal to the council, saying the town needs an active approach rather than ad‑hoc variance decisions. The mayor argued the 5‑acre minimum was a temporary brake but that the city should adopt two development zones—one for already populated residential pockets and another to preserve agricultural acreage—and build a comprehensive plan to support any zoning code changes.
An appraiser who spoke during the discussion outlined how zoning typically designates permitted uses and sets lot‑size rules; staff and the city attorney cautioned that a comprehensive plan, public hearings, and a reconstituted planning and zoning (P&Z) committee will be required before any enforceable zoning map is adopted. The city attorney described the practical steps and legal record needed to defend a zoning scheme in public hearings and potential challenges.
"This stuff that we're talking about doing should have been done 5 years ago," the mayor said during his presentation, arguing the city should not rely on passive management. Councilmembers expressed support for moving toward a zoning plan but also warned it could take time: "To create an effective plan... it's not just a simple overnight project," the city attorney said. Several members asked the mayor to shepherd a draft to the P&Z process so residents and staff can weigh in before formal readings.
