Council votes NO on rezoning issues

It was standing-room-only at last week's city council meeting, as citizens were on hand to witness how the council would vote on several rezoning issues involving residential properties.

Tony Turner, of 3663 Church Street, pleaded with the council to rezone his home from its current residential status to a commercial one. Turner, who is trying to sell his home, has had no luck selling it as a residential property, but commercially, he told the council, he had a potential buyer in Dennis Macey, a CPA.

Macey, depending on the vote of the council, would relocate his CPA practice to the corner of Church and 37th streets.

Residents from Myrtle Hill and East Meadow neighborhoods, located near the Turner property, delivered a petition with over 200 signatures opposing the rezone.

Citizens opposing the rezone stated that their property value would decline, Zachary growth had gotten out of hand and that residents did not not want a business located in their neighborhood.

Those who spoke in favor of the Macey family moving their business to that location, such as Copper Mill developer Ross Bruce, said that the Maceys are wonderful people and that smart growth calls for properties that are a mixed use of live/work space. "Well planned out professional/residential zoning is a plus to Zachary," said Bruce.

Reactions and votes of councilmen:

Bouley: "I concur with the mind-set of smart growth. I support, as I have previously, that this lot be rezoned." Voted Yea to rezone.

Coghlan: "The people in this district voted me in, (the Turner residence is located in Coghlan's district); if they're against the rezone, then I'm against it." Voted Nay to rezone.

Riley: "Neighborhoods belong to the people and families that live there. I have a problem trying to change what's already there, but I'm all for smart growth, we need it." Voted Nay to rezone.

Nezianya: "I am in support of new businesses coming to Zachary, but will abstain from voting until a clear message can be sent." Abstained from voting.

Wallis: "I've always been opposed to spot-rezoning. I concur with Councilman Riley, I don't want to change what's already there." Voted Nay to rezone.

The Zachary City Council voted against the rezone of Turner's property, which is located directly across the street of the future home of the Zachary School Board offices.

Additionally, the council voted against a request by Norville Hamilton to rezone a property on Pope Road. Hamilton wanted the rezone in order to build a duplex to be used as rental properties.

Several residents, including Zachary Fire Deputy Chief Glenn Triche, who resides on Pope Road, said that the road is sinking in spots and before any development would take place, the road would require extensive repair.

Other residents spoke against multiple-family dwellings saying that historically, Pope Road has been a nice, quiet place to live and that a duplex-type development would change that.

Also, Zachary Fire Department firefighters spoke about fire safety, bringing to a close Fire Prevention Month.

ZFD reminded citizens that it will furnish, at no charge, smoke alarms and batteries to the elderly and to anyone that cannot afford one.