A local developer who wants

to renovate the Jeff Davis Apartments and convert the entire complex to

condominiums discussed the idea with the Fayetteville Planning and Zoning

Commission at Tuesday night's work session.

City staff said that Alex Thompson's

idea is a good one, but several issues relating to the city's zoning ordinance

must be worked out for it to come to fruition.

The complex is currently zoned

RMF-15 (residential multifamily) and lies in the Main Street Architectural

Overlay district. It is now developed at 12 units per acre, which is above

the allowed density for the current zoning, but is classified as a legal

non-conforming use since it was grandfathered in when the current guidelines

were adopted.

Thompson wants to develop additional

units and would like to bump the density up to 16 units per acre, which

is not allowed in any of the city's zoning districts. "The zoning

ordinance clearly states that non-conforming uses may not be expanded,"

according to a city staff report. "In addition, any outside work

that requires a building permit requires that the property be brought

up to the current standards of the zoning ordinance to the extent practicable."

City staff also concluded that

this project would likely require a redevelopment zoning district. But

planning and zoning director Jahnee Prince told the board she felt the

issue should be discussed.

"This is a good idea,"

she said. "It's something the city has not seen but will probably

see again in the future."

The proposal is not an action

item on the commission's current agenda.

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