Hidden Bridge Ranch rezone passes first reading

After a public hearing of more than an hour, an ordinance rezoning around 18.5 acres on Mydland Road south of West Fifth Street narrowly passed approval at the Sheridan city council meeting earlier this week.

Mayor Roger Miller provided the deciding “yes” vote.

The ordinance approving the Hidden Bridge Ranch rezone passed by a 4-3 vote, but now must be approved two more times in order for the rezone to become effective. The request is to change the zoning of the property from a mix of R-1 residential and B-1 commercial to R-2 residential.

Residents of the area protested the rezone primarily because of what they considered density and safety issues. Joanna Briggs, one of the residents of the area, said as of the time of the council meeting, she had a petition signed by 216 residents opposed to the rezone.

Another resident of the area said he was concerned about safety with the addition of more housing units and the added traffic. An R-1 residential zoning calls for a minimum lot size of 6,000 square feet, but R-2 would allow lots to be 4,000 square feet, which would allow additional houses to be built.

City Councilor Jacob Martin moved to table the ordinance, but his motion was voted down 4-3.