The Sweet Springs board of aldermen discussed a request from a resident involving rezoning during its meeting on May 13.
According to unofficial minutes from that meeting, Michael Clevenger discussed the possible rezoning of his trailer court on South Locust. He said he is going to deed two different lots to have an overnight RV lot and 20 storage units.
Alderman Wyatt Lea said he did not feel the city should rezone the lot to commercial because that could potentially bring in businesses or unwanted traffic to a residential area. It was discussed that aldermen possibly could give him a variance on the lot to allow for the storage units.
Aldermen met again on Monday, May 17, to discuss it more.
Alderman Boyd Jones read the variance section from the planning and zoning book. In a section, it states the granting of permission by the zoning board of appeals to allow the development of use is normally permitted within a given zoning district without strict adherence to specific controls, such as dimensional limitations side yards, height, lot coverage, etc. A legal variance must maintain the basic purpose and intent of the zoning regulations, while permitting logical development of land, which otherwise appears unduly restricted. Jones then said he did not think aldermen could give a variance for this lot; it will have to be rezoned.
City Clerk Michelle Fuehring said for a property to be rezoned it must be advertised twice, and it must be posted stating there will be a public hearing with the planning and zoning board. The planning and zoning board would meet again after its decision and an ad would have to be placed twice more and posted that a meeting with the board of alderman will take place.
Clevenger said he had spoken with all the abutting neighbors, and they are all supportive of his improvements to the land.
Jones moved, and it was seconded by alderman Trey Schleicher to start the rezoning process of lot three and six in block two of Shaw Addition for commercial use. But before the vote, the issue was tabled.