Metropolitan Council Zoning Meeting: March 18, 2026

The Metropolitan Council convened for a zoning meeting on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, to consider several rezoning and land use items. The meeting included routine approvals, a significant debate on a proposed residential development in the Monticello subdivision, and several uncontested rezonings.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1 – RB 4-25: Revocation of portions of St. James, France, and Europe Street rights-of-way, located south of Government Street and west of Phillips Street (District 10). Motion to approve carried unanimously with no opposition.
• Items 2 & 3 – P8-7-25-17501 Florida Boulevard & Case 53-25: A request to delete these items (comprehensive plan amendment and rezoning at 17501 Florida Boulevard) was approved by motion. The items were removed from consideration.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Edward Pratt (Vice President, Monticello Citizen Association): Expressed concerns about a proposal to build 37 houses on vacant land near Monticello. He stated the community had insufficient notice (a meeting was called only two days before the planning commission hearing), and worried about increased traffic (estimating 54+ new cars), drainage issues, and smaller lot sizes compared to existing homes. He requested a larger community meeting before approval, saying: “We would love to talk to y’all before the whole thing goes through.”
• Tanya Jones (Monticello resident): Supported the rezoning from commercial to residential, stating she attended a community meeting where about 50 people were present. She said most attendees favored single-family homes over apartments, condos, or a gas station. She noted the developer promised additional meetings during the design process.
• Flora Bailey (Monticello resident): Opposed the project due to flooding and traffic congestion, saying “we won’t be able to get out of there at all.”
• Kyle Hagler (SJB Group, representing landowner): Explained the current C1/C2 zoning would allow multifamily apartments (up to 419 units), gas stations, convenience stores, and other intense uses. The proposed rezoning to A1 (75-foot minimum lot width) and HU7 (50-foot lots) would restrict development to single-family detached homes, preventing multifamily and commercial uses. He highlighted the site is not in a flood zone and has access to the Engineering Depot Canal for drainage. The conceptual layout shows 37 lots (less than 3 per acre), with a right-in/right-out only entrance on Greenwell Springs Road.
• Kevin Sullivan (Developer/Property Owner): His family has owned the property for 40 years. He stated that if the rezoning is not approved, they would develop the property under current zoning (potentially 412 apartments), which the neighborhood opposes. He apologized for the short notice of the community meeting and committed to additional meetings during the subdivision approval process.

Discussion Items

• Monticello Subdivision Rezoning (Case not explicitly numbered in transcript): Councilmembers debated the proposal for 37 single-family homes. Councilman Hearst (who lives in Monticello) supported the project, noting that a community meeting had 50 attendees and only 2–3 expressed concerns. He argued the rezoning would prevent apartments and commercial uses, and that the lot sizes (75 feet on Monticello Boulevard, 50 feet in the rear) align with other parts of the subdivision. Councilwoman Coleman opposed, stating she voted against it at the Planning and Zoning Commission and would “vote the same way tonight” to avoid being hypocritical. Councilman Gooday proposed a substitute motion to defer the item 30 days to allow another community meeting, but later withdrew it after the developer agreed to meet with residents during the design phase. Council members questioned lot sizes, drainage, and buffers; the developer clarified a creek/buffer zone exists and that drainage studies would be completed after approval.

Key Outcomes

• Item 1: Approved unanimously.
• Items 2 & 3: Deleted by motion.
• Monticello Rezoning: Approved 9–2 (roll call: Councilmembers Gooday, Moak, Adams, Hearst, Rocka, Noel, Hudson, Amarissa, Kenny voted yes; Councilmembers Coleman and Harris voted no). The approval allows the developer to proceed with subdivision plans, with a commitment to hold community meetings during the engineering and design process.
• Item 6 – Case 8-26 (536 West Irene Road): Rezone from rural to heavy industrial. Approved unanimously with no opposition.
• Item 7 – Case 9-26 (9933 High Synth Avenue): Rezone from single-family residential, off-street parking, and light commercial to light commercial-2. Approved unanimously.
• Additional Item (unclear number): A motion to approve (likely another rezoning) carried 6-0, with no further details.