Mebane city council turned down a developer’s request to subdivide a lot at 122 South Lane Street at the corner with East Webb Street.
The new owner, Michael Griffith of Gryffindoor Properties in Raleigh, told the council that while his initial intention was to renovate the existing home, he has discovered foundation problems, as well as the fact the second floor does not have but 6-foot clearances.
He said he had bought the property based on tax records that indicated the lot was six-tenths of an acre, which would have allowed sufficient room to subdivide the property in its current R-12 zoning.
It was also subsequently determined that the lot is only half an acre, resulting in too small a lot to be subdivided within R-12 parameters, which resulted in the owner seeking the smaller zoning classification of R-10.
Griffith pointed to inconsistencies in the sizes of houses and lots in the area, as a part of his appeal to allow the subdivision of the lot he sought.
Two neighbors – Chris Watkins and Barney Liggins – spoke against the subdivision request, saying it would disturb the harmony of what Watkins called “this very old community.”
Bradley said he did not feel that the city should be a party to subdividing the lot just because there are other inconsistencies in the area.
Bradley’s motion to deny the rezoning request was unanimously adopted by the council, 5-0.
