The Carroll City Council voted 4-2 during last night’s (Monday) meeting to move forward with rezoning the proposed Golfview Subdivision to ready it for future development. The council is proposing the nine lots located on N. West Street on the western edge of the Carroll Municipal Golf Course be rezoned from Agricultural (A-1) to Low-Density Residential (R-3), a move that would be required for homes, condos, or any other housing units to be constructed at the site. Before voting on the proposal, the council is required to hold a public hearing on the rezoning. Former Mayor Mark Beardmore spoke against the change, citing concerns over the project’s anticipated $1.7 million cost.
The $1.7 million estimated price tag currently includes design work to bring city utilities to the area, platting services, construction costs, and a new lift station to service the homes, with the capacity to service another 100 or so acres of additional development if that were to occur. Beardmore says another concern for him is the city becoming too involved in real estate development.
Beardmore also has issues using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to help finance the project that he believes would be better utilized to benefit a larger segment of the population. A motion during the Carroll Planning and Zoning Commission’s April 10 meeting to recommend the rezoning failed to pass on a 2-6 vote. City Attorney Dave Bruner clarified to the council that P&Z is an advisory board only, and the final decision on zoning changes lies with the council. Ward 3 Councilman Kyle Bauer says their opposition to rezoning has little to do with zoning regulations.
If the project were to proceed to completion, Beardmore estimates the return on investment for the city to be between 31 and 37 years in a best-case scenario. At-Large Councilman LaVern Dirkx did not dismiss the concerns over the project, but he says that was not the question before the council.
A motion from Bauer to approve the first reading of the zoning change for the Golfview Subdivision passed 4-2, with Ward 2 Councilman Jason Atherton and At-Large Councilwoman JJ Schreck voting nay. Three readings are required for a zoning change to be approved. Additional votes at future meetings would be necessary for the proposed development to proceed, assuming the zoning change goes through. Video from Monday’s Carroll City Council zoning change discussion is included with this story on our website.
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