Neighbors voice opposition to Hawesville townhouse plan
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By Dave Taylor
A proposed multi-family structure on the hill in Hawesville brought out opposition at the planning and zoning commission meeting Monday, with neighboring property owners concerned the project would hurt their values and bring congestion to an already congested area.
The commission reviewed a zoning change requested by Kyle and Jessica Estes for their property at 555 Madison Street from R-1, single-family dwelling, to R-3, multi-family, but questions arose about the use of Jennings Street and whether lots across the road are adjoining.
Jamie Stephens, who owns the property immediately behind the Estes’ empty lot, and Roy and Vicki Butler and their son Dean, who own across the road, voiced their concerns after Administrator Jeff Dame said the request met the requirements and would be zoned similarly to some adjoining properties.
“I think it’s going to depreciate the value of my property,” Roy Butler said.
Dame explained that consideration for rezoning can come because of an incorrect zoning in the past, or changes in the area that necessitate a rezoning, and that the zoning of the Estes’ lot as only for single-family homes doesn’t fit any more because of the use and the zoning of the surrounding lots.
“The reason my office is seeking approval of this is because there are other zonings that are like it adjoining to this, across the street and next to it,” said Dame.
“That’s across the street though,” said Dean Butler, of his parents’ property that sits across Madison Street from the disputed lot.
“It’s still adjoining,” said Dame.
“That’s a technicality,” Dean Butler said.
“Not really, because it’s required by law,” Dame said.
“And this’ll be right in his backyard, basically, so I believe it’s going to downgrade the property value,” Butler said.
Dame explained that the use met with guidelines of the county’s long-term, or comprehensive, plan, and that adjoining properties were zoned R-3.
“Your definition of adjoin and mine are two different things, sir,” said Butler.
The discussion turned to how the residents would enter the lot, whether from Madison Street or from the smaller Jennings Street.
That information wasn’t required in the application, Dame said, but the commission might want to consider requiring an entrance from Madison to avoid using Jennings, which Dean Butler said is already too narrow for its current users.
“It’s narrow, it’s one lane, and there’s other property, not just what’s shown here that utilize that road. There’s a whole other neighborhood,” Butler said.
Commissioners asked if they could get more information on where an entrance to the lot would be and clarification on whether just one or multiple buildings were in the plans, before approving the rezoning.
“If he was here he could tell you, but he’s not here and I can’t speak for him,” said Dame.
Commission member Layman Hawkins spoke up against the idea overall.
“Since we’re voicing our opinions, I’m against multi-family being built with single-family,” he said. “I just don’t think they belong together. We’ve got them in Lewisport and it’s an aggravation.”
“You’ve got people coming and going, you’ve got people that don’t care about the property, they don’t keep it up,” he said. “I mean are these going to be sold, they going to be rented, or what? Renters don’t take care of things.”
The commission voted to table the request until the next meeting, which is scheduled for April 6.
