A property at 2622 Berkley Dr. in Red Bank was rezoned, on the first vote, at the Red Bank Commission meeting Tuesday night. Although zoning of the lot will be changed from R-1 Residential to R-T/Z Townhouse Zero Lot Line, the owner told the commissioners that two single family houses are planned for the property, not townhouses or duplexes. The request for the zoning change is because the two lots when divided will be slightly too narrow to conform to the R-1 zoning requirements.
The houses will each be 1,800 square feet, two story homes with four bedrooms and two bathrooms. The site plan shows adequate parking and turn around space and meets all set back requirements and was unanimously approved on first reading. The second and final vote for the rezoning will take place at the first council meeting in September.
A condemnation hearing will result in a house at 3307 Lamar Ave. being torn down. Earlier in the
year a rear foundation wall collapsed causing plumbing, electrical, HVAC units and water heaters to fall into the basement along with mud and debris. Tom Retseck, a structural engineer, was called and he determined that the structure was unsafe and inhabitable, and the tenants were required to move out. His opinion is that the cost to repair the building would be 58 percent of the value of the house. A state code specifies that if repairs cost 50 percent of the value, a municipality can condemn and destroy a building.
The owner of the house, Randy Blevins, told the commissioners that his insurance would not cover the damage and a second mortgage on the property was denied because of the damage, leaving him little choice but to allow the building to be torn down. If it is not done within 60 days, the city will do the work and put a lien of the property for the cost of demolition.
It has been many years since Red Bank has updated its sign ordinance, said Mayor John Roberts. It is now being done and will be reviewed by the planning commission and by City Attorney Arnold Stulce. The new ordinance will be ready in the near future, but Commissioner Carol Rose said the moratorium on any new permanent signs permits in the central business district and billboards in all zoning districts should be extended for another six months until the ordinance is finalized.
The board of commissioners on Tuesday night also adopted a bank form resolution and authorized signors for bank signature cards for both the general fund and the drug fund. Those authorized to sign checks are Mayor Roberts, Vice Mayor Eddie Pierce, Interim City Manager Tim Thornbury, City Recorder Ruth Rohen and Finance Director John Alexander. The city attorney said two signatures are required and one is always an elected official.
The next meeting of the Red Bank Commission will be Sept. 4.