Neighborhood Group’s Rezoning Petition Turned Down

An effort by residents of the North Hill Neighborhood to change the zoning on a block containing parts of North Street, Fifth Street, Iowa Street, and Sixth Street to single and double family only residences failed during a Tuesday night Planning Commission meeting.

The residents brought the issue to the commission due to a single piece of property: 1111 North Fifth Street. Neighbors say that the the property–currently abandoned–has been a nuisance in the past, generating a slew of police reports and even a fatal fire. A previous owner used the property as a 12 person boarding house, a business plan that the neighborhood group doesn’t want repeated.

Jesse Caston is the new owner of the building, after purchasing it and 13 other properties in a January bank foreclosure. He told the commission that he plans to sell the building, but if he isn’t able to find a buyer, he would like to use it as a boarding house for “young professionals” and opposes the rezoning.

Eric Tysland is Burlington’s Development and Parks Director. He said there were a number of reasons that the Commission voted 4-0, with one abstention, not to rezone the property.

“Zoning wouldn’t necessarily accomplish what they’re looking to do,” Tysland explained to KBUR, “This is one block in a neighborhood that’s zoned [for multiple family residency], they’re targeting this one block even though the same thing could happen in a number of places around the neighborhood.”

The issue will, however, be discussed at an upcoming Burlington City Council meeting. They’re expected to discuss the rezoning on April 20th, taking into account that the move isn’t recommended.

Some members of the neighborhood group cried foul, saying that the commission held a conflict of interest: Caston is the son of current building inspector Larry Caston.