City planners project the
rezoning will spur the development 1,800 new apartments--up to 673 set aside at below-market-rate rents--to house 6,500 residents on the corridor, which is currently zoned for mostly manufacturing uses.
"Aware that the ordinance amendment was imminent, Gamut Group sought
rezoning of its property to F to accommodate its existing dispensary.
Johnson spoke against the
rezoning request during the meeting.
Such a
rezoning -- which village board members will consider Monday -- was requested by the developer as a necessary next step to buy the 150 acres from their current owner.
However, an apparent loophole in the city planning process is that a real estate developer's land being the subject of a
rezoning effort is not considered a business relationship: Therefore the development company's executives and employees are able to give to candidates at the higher level.
Investors who don't vigorously oppose the
rezoning would have little defense in such cases.
He added that if the county approved the
rezoning, the residential use of the property could limit other future agricultural uses.
Did Bridgewater's plans begin in advance of the
rezoning?
The project also includes
rezoning a connecting 7.72-acre tract that fronts Kentucky 54 to general business.
The Jordans also retained real estate appraiser Dennis Carr, who testified that
rezoning was possible rather than probable.
The city council will hold a public hearing on the
rezoning in June.