There are new zoning changes in the works that would make it easier for home builders to change access roads into local developments.
Hamilton County Commissioners on Thursday got their first look at the proposed rule changes and it will likely come up for a vote at their regular meeting next week.
Greg Haynes, director of the Regional Planning Agency’s Zoning and Subdivision Office, said the county approved changes last year for residential planned unit developments, known as PUDs. The changes required builders to go back through the planning process if they changed entrances to their developments.
“This (proposed change) will not require developers to go back through the process as long as the county engineer approves it,” Mr. Haynes said.
Mr. Haynes said an issue with a local project near the intersection of London Lane and East Brainerd Road prompted the suggested revisions. He also said a few other developments had experienced similar problems with last year’s revisions.
He also said a few other developments had experienced similar problems with last year’s revisions.
Mr. Haynes said the engineer would look at traffic patterns, flow and sight distance and whether the access road would be relocated to another public street before approving any access road changes.
Barry Bennett, executive director of the Regional Planning Agency, said other RPA and county staff would look at proposed access changes as well, but the ultimate decision would fall to the engineer.
“There are some things that should be staff approved without having to go back through the planning process,” he said.
Commissioner Bill Hullander, who is chair of the county Roads and Zoning Committee, said the commission would be asked to consider the changes at their meeting next week, and said he supports the proposal.
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