By Rupert Howell

A request to rezone a  house at 103 Redbud from R-9 to RM3 was denied in a packed meeting room of  Batesville’s Planning Commission Monday afternoon at City Hall.

Ray Boltz spoke before commissioners stating that he wanted the change to house up to 16 adoptive boys through Lighthouse for Hope ministry that is affiliated with the Assembly of God Churches and has similar facilities for all ages across the nation, according to the Lighthouse of Hope Website.

Commissioners voted, following Commissioner Dave Billingsley’s motion to deny the request, with commissioner Willie King being the lone dissent vote against the denial motion.

The property is currently owned by Robert Shepard and Boltz said he desired the change for a long term lease or purchase of the property. He explained that boys in the home would not be delinquents, be under 12 and would be from churches who support the ministry, not from foster care.

About three dozen onlookers from the upscale Batesville neighborhood attended Monday’s meeting but weren’t allowed to address commissioners during the meeting.

City Attorney Colmon Mitchell explained prior to Boltz’ request that the commission meeting was not the place to air grievances, support or displeasure with the request. He explained a five step process emphasizing that the commissioners were only an advisory board and their recommendation would come before Batesville’s elected board of mayor and alderman where comments would be appropriate and welcomed before a final decision is made.

Boltz indicated that he would like to appeal the commission’s recommendation for denial before the city’s board of mayor and aldermen.

A notice will be published 15 days prior to that hearing announcing date, time and location. The hearings are traditionally held during the first Monday’s meeting of the city board which would fall on November 5.

R-9 districts, such as the 103 Redbud home, are designed primarily to accommodate single-family detached residential uses (other than mobile homes) at medium densities in areas served by public water and sewer facilities.

The RM-3 district is designed primarily to accommodate higher density multi-family developments according to the code.