This is a City-Initiated rezoning proposal for three areas in Greatwood located 1) east of Greatwood Parkway and north of Riverbrook Drive, 2) North of Riverbrook Drive and Grand Terrace Lane and 3) south of Winding Brook Drive and Quiet Pond Drive (approximately 29.2 acres in total for the three areas), from Interim Standard Single-Family Residential (R-1-I) to Permanent Business Office (B-O) or Townhouse Residential (R-3) for areas developed as either senior independent / assisted living or townhomes in the Greatwood community (see vicinity maps). Properties within the Greatwood MUDs were annexed in December 2017 and received Interim Standard Single-Family (R-1-I) zoning at the time of annexation. Permanent zoning is required post-annexation; therefore, the City has initiated the permanent rezoning process for the Greatwood areas. In addition to the notice of this Public Hearing meeting, a letter further explaining the zoning change was sent to the non-residential and residential property owners; and to property owners within 200 feet of the non-residential and residential properties within Greatwood. Staff has not received any additional inquiries following the Planning & Zoning Commission recommendation.
The proposed zoning category for each property is recommended to closely match the existing uses that have been developed over time as either a senior independent / assisted living facility or townhomes in Greatwood. Staff has conducted fieldwork and site visits to all three areas to better understand the current land uses and this information has gone into the Planning Department recommendations for specific zoning categories. While the specific commercial zoning category B-O allows independent / assisted living uses through the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) process, the zoning also offers protections to adjacent residential neighborhoods should the site be re-built or expanded. The residential zoning category of R-3 zoning is an appropriate zoning district for the two townhome areas in Greatwood based on the development pattern.
For the areas in Greatwood that already have interim commercial zoning due to prior limited-purpose annexation, staff anticipates permanent zoning to take place in the last phase of the permanent zoning process. With regard to the remainder of the residential single-family areas in Greatwood currently zoned R-1-I, Staff anticipates the permanent zoning process to take place in a future phase; therefore, the residential areas developed as standard single-family homes are not included in this permanent zoning request.
The Commission held a public hearing on June 12, 2018 at which no members of the public spoke. The Commission believed the proposed zoning districts for the Greatwood non-residential and townhome development were reasonable based on the existing uses, and in character with the surrounding neighborhoods. On July 10, 2018 the Commission unanimously recommended approval to the Mayor and City Council with no changes to the Staff’s recommendation of approval.