Perry Council approves C-1 zoning, places moratorium on RV parks

Tuesday’s regular meeting of Perry Mayor and Council and pre-council session saw a number of ordinances slated for a second reading and subsequent vote discussed. Among the nine issues under this category was the request for the rezoning of a plot of land from M-1 to C-1 in the area of Perry Parkway and Interstate 75. In previous meetings, it had been brought to the attention of council that a portion of this parcel was planned for use as a seniors only RV park.

During the pre-council meeting discussion, Councilmember Joy Peterson brought forward her concerns of what she believes to be inconsistencies between Monday’s work session discussion and new documentation, in the form of a rental agreement for the RV park, received by council, as well as the city’s strategic masterplan in regard to protecting corridors into the city. Peterson also noted that she understood that this was a vote on rezoning and not the RV park itself.

“I’m not here to pass judgement on his ability to run a good RV park, I feel like he probably has that. What I’m uncomfortable with is the inconsistencies of what he said to us…” Peterson said, further stating that though she could abstain from the vote, she did not believe that she was elected to do so, and wanted to share her “heart and soul” on the issue, with Councilwoman Phyllis Bynum Grace echoing some of her points.

City Attorney Brooke Newby advised council that these points were not relevant to the rezoning request itself.

City Manager Lee Gilmour noted that based on further discussion of the issue at hand, he would recommend that after a vote was taken on the rezoning request, or the meeting’s end, that a moratorium on RV parks be placed for a period of 120 days so that impacts citywide, in any district, could be assessed.

“So, to resolve that, may be that they could all come in as a special exception. You may say that they could be allowed as a matter of right in certain types of districts, whatever the recommendation that you had reviewed. But I think the aspect, in general terms, particularly on this discussion about the C-1, the route that you need to take are special exceptions…” Gilmour explained.

Gilmour further illustrated the example of apartment complexes with more than six units. Gilmour reminded that the city has not said that they cannot go anywhere, but that they must have a special exception, and council can decide if it is an appropriate use, in the best interest of the site in question. Gilmour continued in saying that as it stood, an RV park was a use of right in the C-1 district.

Gilmour noted that the special exception process would give council flexibility about whether a particular use was compatible for an area in question in the city.

Director of Community Development Bryan Wood also offered that the rezoning could be a “trade off,” as the C-1 zoning could bring forth other types of opportunities for the area that could be deemed appropriate, and eliminate uses under the M-1 zoning that could be seen as inappropriate.

The ordinance was passed in a five to one vote during the regular council meeting, with Peterson voting against the rezoning. Later in the meeting, council also voted to impose a moratorium for the period of 120 days concerning RV parks, so that an assessment of those parks could be brought back before council. Gilmour recommended that the RV Park that had been previously discussed in the meeting in conjunction with the rezoning request be exempt from the moratorium.

In other business, four residents of the Woodlands subdivision came before council to address concerns of an emergency road being built into a cul-de-sac from a neighboring subdivision, and noted that they did find out that the Woodlands would have multiple ways in and out for emergencies.

Among residents speaking was Jeannie Cowan, who asked council to consider installing posts, so that the road would be a strictly emergency thoroughfare.

“We have so many kids that play out in the cul-de-sac, play on their bikes, play on their toys. A lot of people walk their dogs on our street because it is a cul-de-sac. We would like to keep it a safer place of travel, or place for us, and to not have as much traffic down that road. So we would really like y’all to take that into consideration so that we can keep the feel of the cul-de-sac, and keep the feel of that safety, with less traffic,” Cowan entreated.

Another resident, John Riddick, explained that he lived right next to the projected road and had no inclination that there was going to be a road there, and he believed that they had been misled. When he bought his property, Riddick noted that there had been a sign there with a lot number.

“We’re in all in a tough situation where this has occurred, and we had no idea that it was going to happen,” Riddick expressed.

Mayor Randall Walker stated that the normal procedure was to take the information heard, because it was the first time council was hearing of the issue, and discuss it at the next work session, which would be October 4.

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