Council rejects Piedmont Developments rezoning request for South Ridge lot

Joseph Stern, a managing member of Piedmont Developments, and his business partner (introduced as Carter Keller) urged the council to rezone a corner lot at South Ridge and Odey Street from R-1 to R-3 so the pair could subdivide the parcel and build two modest single-family homes.

"We would like to build 2 modest affordable single family homes, nothing more. No apartments. No commercial use," Stern said, adding the applicants had revised their proffers to commit each lot to a minimum of 8,000 square feet and to cap the sale price of each home at $325,000.

Neighbors opposed the change. Catherine Callahan, who lives across the street, said the neighborhood’s low-density character and narrow Ridge Street make additional driveways and added traffic hazardous. "Please don't put a driveway outside my front door that empties onto Ridge Street," Callahan said. Tina Barker and Karen Lundrigan cited the planning commission's 5–1 recommendation to deny the request, raised concerns about spot zoning and questioned whether rezoning would increase homeownership or merely produce rental properties.

Council members discussed legal and planning distinctions between spot zoning and legitimate comprehensive-plan implementation, traffic counts cited by the applicants (about 320 vehicles per day on Ody Street in 2021), and whether the proffers sufficiently addressed neighborhood concerns. A motion to approve the rezoning with the applicants' proffers was made and seconded; the roll-call vote was 1 aye, 6 no and the motion failed. Council did not rezone the parcel to R-3.

The council noted the planning commission had considered the matter and voted 5–1 to recommend denial; the applicants said they revised language and proffers in response to the commission’s concerns. No further action was taken on the request at this meeting.