A public hearing was held Tuesday night at the Red Bank Commission meeting, about rezoning property at 559 Memorial Drive. The owner, Barbara Hawkins, requested the change from R-1, single family residential to RZ-1, residential zero lot line zone in to be able to build five single-family houses on the lot. In the past, she has built another zero lot line development nearby on Ashmore Avenue. The houses in the new development will be two stories with the master on the main level and will be 1,800-1,900 square feet.
No city residents spoke in opposition at the hearing which resulted in the commission giving approval for the project on first reading.
An ordinance amending the budget to appropriate funding for transportation improvements was passed on second and final reading. This is an accounting issue, said Mayor John Roberts. It will allow funds that have been designated, but not yet used, for certain transportation improvements to be rolled over into the 2016-2017 budget so the work can be completed. The projects consist of pedestrian islands, paving from Greenleaf to Browntown Road and sidewalks all along Dayton Boulevard.
A concerned resident of the city, Holly Beckett who lives on Redding Road, came before the commissioners to ask that a gas station that was discussed at the July 5 meeting not be allowed. She said in a small town that already has four working gas stations and one that is closed, another one is not needed. She and a group of nearby neighbors all agree that they would rather see another type of business at the corner of her street where it joins Dayton Boulevard, said Ms. Beckett.
At the July meeting the conditions pertaining to the property were amended in order to allow fuel stations to be put in the C-2 Commercial Zone, on the request of the owner. The city code does not allow that use in a C-2 zone. The location is in the central business district and the business will be allowed to have four pumps and a central kiosk, all covered by a canopy, according to the resolution passed by the commission. This change will need to go before and be approved by the planning commission before it is finalized.
Commissioner Ed LeCompte told the other commissioners and the audience that he recently found out about a non-profit pet rescue service named Stevie’s Haven that is located in Red Bank on McCahill Road. At a Chamber of Commerce meeting, he also learned that the library at Red Bank High School is being renovated and will become a community hub, almost like a public library, he said. Specifics about plans for the new library are available on the Red Bank High School website.
Commissioner Rick Causer gave a reminder that because of the extremely dry conditions that a no-burn ban is in effect.
City Manager Randall Smith said that planning has already begun for the Red Bank Christmas Parade. This year an added feature will be a 5K race and one mile fun run. It will be held in cooperation with the swim team and will be named the Red Bank Gator Run.