A moratorium is being put on the Red Bank design review ordinance for one year. The board of commissioners suspended the current ordinance to allow time to make changes so the ordinance would not deter commercial development.
Commissioner Carol Rose said she had reservations about the moratorium because design review is so important, but said she believes that the city’s zoning ordinances cover many of the same conditions.
Commissioners hope to expedite the changes and it was noted that the moratorium can be lifted at any time. Mayor Eddie Pierce said the current ordinance was developed to improve the city and citizens’ quality of life, but the right kind of development also increases livability.
Enforcement and operation of the city’s sign ordinance with respect to the removal of “pole signs” was also suspended for a set period of time. In the long term, the city wants to eliminate this type of sign and replace them with “monument signs.” The ordinance that passed on first reading Tuesday night will allow a business that moves to a location with an existing pole sign, to use it while the ordinance is under review. Use of an old pole sign requires the business to obtain a permit which had not been possible before the current city code was suspended at the commission meeting. No new pole signs can be erected or installed.
A zoning change for property at 201, 205, 207, 209, and 224 Hedgewood Dr. and 123 Everly Dr. was given final approval. The current R-1 single family residential zone was changed to R-T/Z Residential Townhouse Zero lot line. Three lots that were rezoned will be converted to five lots that will be used by developer Tyler Smith for townhouses with zero lot line yards.
Brian Wright of Johnson, Murphey and Wright presented the fiscal year 2019 audit report. He told the commissioners that all of the city’s funds are doing well while new equipment was acquired for both the fire and police departments, improvements were made at the new city hall building and paving was done, among other things that support the citizens of Red Bank. Only the stormwater fund lost money and the amount was just around $700. Overall, the funds performed excellently, he said. The audit received an “unmodified opinion,” the best you can get, he told the commission.
City Manager Tim Thornbury said the Christmas Parade is scheduled for Friday starting at 6 p.m. Before and after there will be lights, music and food. During the parade there will be detours around the parade route on Dayton Boulevard. He also said that the city has begun picking up leaves, starting at the north end of town. He encourages residents to get leaves to the street.
Vice Mayor Ruth Jeno announced that the Red Bank Community Food Pantry at the Red Bank United Methodist Church, 3800 Dayton Blvd., will be open Thursday from noon until 2 p.m. The pantry is still looking for volunteers, she said.
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