Milligville council approves series of rezonings for downtown hotel and other land‑use requests

The Milligville City Council on April 14 adopted a package of land‑use measures that the council said are intended to spur downtown investment and preserve local historic properties.

Council members voted individually to approve nine ordinances that will rezone several properties in and around the city's central business district to permit hotels and restaurants, and separately approved two smaller rezoning requests for commercial uses outside downtown.

The most prominent approvals cover seven contiguous or nearby downtown parcels that the applicant said will be redeveloped as a Hilton Graduate hotel with an attached restaurant and conference space. Developer representative Matt Wrestling told the council the project will preserve the Thompson House and the Duckworth Farm Supply building, incorporate historic materials in the hotel lobby and use a former supply building for conference amenities. "This is going to boost all downtown businesses," Wrestling said, and he described the design as combining "historic charm [and] modern appeal." The zoning administrator told council a traffic study had started in April and was scheduled to conclude by the end of that month.

Votes at a glance

Ordinance O‑2602‑03 (120 North Elbert Street): adopted (roll call recorded as affirmative).
Ordinance O‑2602‑04 (151 North Jefferson Street): adopted (roll call recorded as affirmative).
Ordinance O‑2602‑05 (211 East Macintosh Street): adopted (roll call recorded as affirmative).
Ordinance O‑2602‑06 (141 North Jefferson Street; includes preservation of a historic home): adopted (roll call recorded as affirmative).
Ordinance O‑2602‑07 (131 North Jefferson Street): adopted; council recorded a recusal by one member on this item.
Ordinance O‑2602‑08 (200 North Elbert Street): adopted (roll call recorded as affirmative).
Ordinance O‑2602‑09 (230 East McIntyre Street): adopted (roll call recorded as affirmative).

Separately, the council approved Ordinance O‑2601‑01 to rezone 133 Shop Road from Office/Institutional to Light Industrial to allow meat‑processing, cold storage and wholesale distribution. The zoning administrator and the applicant’s representative, Patty Burns, clarified during the hearing that the use would not include on‑site slaughtering and there would be no retail sales at that location. Miss Simmons stated during the roll call that she had to abstain from the vote for a possible conflict of interest; the ordinance was otherwise approved.

Council also approved Ordinance O‑2602‑02 to rezone 900 Barrels Ferry Road from single‑family residential (SFR2) to Community Commercial to allow a vehicle repair and maintenance shop. Owner John Schwarz spoke in favor; no opposition appeared. Miss Simmons again declared an abstention on that vote, and the ordinance passed.

What happens next

The hotel project and the other rezoned sites now move forward under the conditions recorded in the Planning & Zoning and Historic Preservation approvals; the city will rely on building permits, design review and any traffic‑study recommendations during implementation. Several ordinances were approved after Planning & Zoning and Historic Preservation Commission recommendations; council members did not indicate additional conditions during the meeting.

Reporting from the meeting

Zoning administrator Mr. Barnwell told the council the traffic study for the downtown intersections (Hancock and Elbert Street) began in April and would be provided to the council when complete. Developer Matt Wrestling said renderings and supporting materials would be available to council and added that community letters of support were submitted and entered into the record.