JACKSON BOARD APPROVES REZONINGS ALONG E. JACKSON BOULEVARD

JACKSON -- The Jackson Board of Aldermen voted Monday night to protect the residential status of two subdivisions along East Jackson Boulevard while approving the rezoning of some of the properties along East Jackson to commercial a depth of one lot.

The board made four changes to seven recommendations submitted by the planning and zoning commission in an effort to protect Indian Hills and Kimbeland subdivision entrances off East Jackson Boulevard.

East Jackson Boulevard is Highway 61, which recently was upgraded to five lanes.

The changes approved by the board were:

To rezone from R-1 to C-1 the south side of East Jackson Boulevard from Ford Groves east to Shawnee Avenue, with the exception of the two Leimer-Harris corner lots west of the entrance of Indian Hills Subdivision. These two lots will remain zoned R-1.

On the south side of East Jackson Boulevard, the corner lot (Harris tract) at 905 North Shawnee will remain R-1. The P&Z had recommended an R-3 zoning.

On the north side of East Jackson Boulevard, the corner lot at 977 Donna Drive (the Baker tract) will remain R-1. This is the East Jackson Boulevard entrance to Kimbeland subdivision. The P&Z had recommended an R-3.

On the north side of East Jackson Boulevard, from the property at 810 East Jackson Boulevard east to and including 850 East Jackson (the McElrath property next to Brennecke Chevrolet) will remain R-1. The P&Z had recommended R-3 zoning.

Other zoning changes recommended by the P&Z that were approved by the board were:

Property on the southeast corner of the intersection of Highway 25 and East Jackson Boulevard (Highway 61-34-72) and Hope Street: rezoned from M-2 to C2.

The south side of East Jackson Boulevard, from the east side of a lot at 1613 Highland Drive to Kimbel Lane: changed from R-1 to C-1.

The south side of East Jackson Boulevard, from 2525 East Jackson west to Kimbeland Golf Course, including property at 2421, 2505, and 2519 East Jackson: rezoned from R-1 to R-3.

The north and south side of East Jackson Boulevard from Wayside Restaurant to Williams Creek: remains zoned C-1.

The vote for the rezoning package was unanimous 8-0.

After the issue was decided, both Ward 1 aldermen issued individual statements on their rezoning votes.

Alderman Paul W. Sander said zoning decisions are some of the most difficult a city alderman makes. He said that while the board voted to rezone some of the tracts of land to C-1, it also preserved the status of Kimbeland and Indian Hills subdivisions entrances.

"I feel it is very important to preserve the residential status of these subdivision entrances and hope this will set a precedent for future zoning requests," Sander said. "I also feel the total package passed tonight allows for growth in Jackson while, at the same time, protects some areas that were of a concern to me."

Alderman David Ludwig said the rezoning package was "a working solution and compromise" that can serve the community as a whole and still maintain a good neighbor policy."

Ludwig also praised the planning and zoning commission for its difficult work in developing the extensive rezoning plan.