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<br />Planning & Zoning Connnission <br />May 6, 2003 <br />Meeting Minutes <br /> <br />Chair Hanson asked what the dollar value of the townhomes would be. Mr. Drilling <br />indicated that it would be difficult for him to build the units for anything less than <br />$189,000 to $225,000. <br /> <br />Commissioner McLean commented that there was a concern from a tax base standpoint <br />that a commercial development on the property would generate more tax base for the City <br />but the City could be waiting a long time for a commercial development on that site. <br /> <br />Ms. Moore-Sykes commented that the tax laws have changed and, with class <br />compression, commercial taxes will decrease and residential will increase making <br />whether it is a commercial development or residential a non-issue. <br /> <br />Mr. Drilling estimated that the potential tax base for the City from his development <br />would be approximately $40,000 and agreed that there used to be a large disparity <br />between commercial and residential taxes but that is not happening anymore. <br /> <br />Commissioner Klennert Hunt asked whether the value of the townhomes would fall under <br />the definition of high-density affordable housing. Ms. Moore-Sykes indicated that the <br />density would qualify but she is not sure on the pricing and would need to research that. <br /> <br />Council Liaison Broussard Vickers indicated that Council would not be interested in <br />private roads within the development. Mr. Drilling indicated that the plan could be <br />amended to eliminate the private roads, as this is merely a concept plan. <br /> <br />Commissioner DeVine commented that he understood the comments of residents wishing <br />to keep any available commercial space zoned that way but, in this case, he feels that <br />rezoning would make sense in this case as the townhomes would be a good buffer <br />between the current residential area and the commercial zone. He further commented <br />that the difference in tax base from residential and commercial is not a consideration with <br />the changes in the tax laws. <br /> <br />Council Liaison Broussard Vickers cautioned that allowing this high-density housing <br />would create a situation were there are a lot of homeowners concerned with what happens <br />to the north as the new people will not feel like they are a buffer to the commercial <br />development. <br /> <br />Ms. Moore-Sykes indicated the City had received two written comments on the proposal. <br />The first from Rob and Judy Schaeffer of 1970 Center Street voicing comments in favor <br />of the rezoning and the second from Norma Essex who is concerned that the City keep its <br />commercial property zoned commercial so she does not want the rezone. <br /> <br />Commissioner Wilharber asked how many acres the development encompassed and <br />whether there would be an association. Mr. Drilling indicated that the development was <br />approximately three acres and said there would be an association. <br /> <br />Page 2 of9 <br />