It’s been almost a year since the city council tabled discussion on a small home development on Waverly Road, instead requesting more information from the developer, Ward 3 Councilman Rusty Greene.
At long last, Greene provided the information, and the council will again consider Tuesday whether to green light the planned unit development.
“I’m hesitant to get excited about it until Tuesday comes and the council says yes,” Greene told The Dispatch after Wednesday’s council work session at City Hall.
Greene, who also works as a real estate agent, wants to build up to three small homes, 750 square feet each, on a single parcel at 115 Waverly Road, behind Waffle House. The current plan provides for 13 feet between each home.
Greene told The Dispatch he wants to build affordable homes with older, single people in mind.
“For people who want to downsize,” he said. “They don’t want big lots. They don’t want a big house. They want something clean, fresh, new, small, affordable.”
He has also heard interest from older people wanting to move from apartments into their own home.
“Houses in the price range I am hoping to sell these for are not going to be in desirable places for a single adult,” he said.
Greene threw out $130,000 as an example of a sale price, though he would not commit to that number or any specific range. He plans to build the first home, gauge the cost and how much he can get for it, then determine whether to build the others.
“Let’s see how this goes,” he said. “… This isn’t a money grab. This is (about) affordable housing and if I can have fun doing it.”
Nathan Katona, building department director, said the parcel lies in a C-3 (highway commercial) zone, which does not allow residential development without permitted use approval. Plus, even though the parcel is large enough to build three homes of that size within the city’s setback regulations, subdividing it into three lots requires a permit.
The planning commission approved the development in March 2024, but the council tabled it until more information was provided, chiefly some idea of the homes’ planned appearance, Katona said.
Greene then explored other potential project sites before circling back to the Waverly Street location, Katona said.
Katona presented the case again at Wednesday’s council work session, complete with a rendering of the homes, and it was placed on next week’s agenda for possible approval. Greene has recused himself from all public council discussion related to his project.
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
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