Planning commission recommends denial of Elmington’s Raymond Hirsch townhomes rezoning after heated public hearing

The White House Planning Commission on Monday recommended denial of a rezoning request for the Raymond Hirsch Townhomes, an Elmington‑proposed high‑density, mixed‑use project, after a lengthy public hearing in which neighbors raised concerns about traffic, notice and neighborhood character.

Commissioners heard from seven registered speakers before taking a show‑of‑hands vote to recommend denial. Neighbor Debbie Webb said the project “would change the basic character of the area” and complained that property owners received notice only days before the meeting. Other residents cited heavy traffic on U.S.‑31W and I‑65, long lists of approved but unbuilt nearby projects, and concerns about water, police and fire capacity.

Elmington’s representative told the commission the company had made concessions since its prior presentation, “We did increase the buffer,” said the speaker, and reduced units along Raymond Hirsch and removed roughly 10 units in direct sight lines of adjacent neighbors to respond to concerns. The developer also said the project would be rental single‑family product managed on site with a full‑time manager.

Commissioners discussed land‑use tradeoffs including whether the parcel’s central location made it appropriate for higher density and whether commercial frontage or a parkway buffer better served the city’s comprehensive plan objectives. Staff reminded the panel that its recommendation is advisory; the Board of Mayor and Aldermen will make the final decision.

The commission’s motion to recommend denial was seconded and approved; the advisory recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for consideration at a future meeting. No final zoning action was taken by the board at this meeting.