Council rejects high density zoning

BLYTHEWOOD – After a lengthy discussion about their desire to downzone Blythewood’s R-5, R-8 and R-12 high-density zoning districts to the D-1 zoning district with minimum lot sizes of 20,000 square feet, Council sallied forth Monday evening to vote unanimously against a zoning request from developer D.R. Horton for those same high density zoning districts on 89.65 acres on Wilson Boulevard.
Horton’s request came with a recommendation of denial from the Planning Commission who had voted against the request two weeks earlier.
“It seems a challenge to approve this considering what we have just been discussing,” Councilman Malcolm Gordge commented. “It is illogical to approve this zoning,”
“I agree,” Mayor J. Michael Ross said. “We just talked about the Planning Comnmission to downzone and here we would be approving something to be actually R-5 and R-8 which is what we want to get away from. Until we get the infrastructure that we need and that we have planned for, it seems we are making a mistake to not slow down and go to a larger size lot so the density is reduced.”
The audience applauded, and Councilman Tom Utroska continued with that thought.
“A lot of towns have this (high density) zoning,” Utroska said. “But we don’t have a property tax here. If we do (what they do) we’re going to wind up with a property tax so we can afford all these subdivisions. The residents who contacted me are totally opposed to high density.”
“The people who called me want that 98 acres downzoned to larger lots,” Councilman Eddie Baughman said.
After several other similar testimonials from Council members, Utroska called for the vote and it was unanimous against Horton’s request.
Council had initially discussed eliminating R-5, R-8 and R-12 zoning altogether. Acknowledging that eliminating the three zoning districts could turn in to a mountain of administrative work for the Town staff and Council, Utroska asked Town Planner Michael Criss if there was another way to accomplish their desired goal of less density without the peripheral problems that might be created with the complete elimination of the three zoning districts.
Criss suggested an alternative approach that involved selecting undeveloped parcels of land within the R-5, R-8 and R-12 zoning districts and rezoning them to a lower residential density.
“This would declare the Council’s concern about the density and pace of residential development in Blythewood and at the same time preserve the zoning of existing or vested developments,” Town Administrator Gary Parker told Council.
Council can not vote on the issue until it goes before the Planning Commission for a recommendation.