Commission recommends NRC rezoning for Johnson Ferry property after owner agrees to remove ambulances

Reese Chance Lewis, an owner of 2997 Johnson Ferry, asked the commission to rezone the property from General Commercial (GC) to Neighborhood Retail/Commercial (NRC) so existing tenant uses (including a head spa) could operate lawfully. Neighbors opposed, chiefly because ambulances and other service vehicles had been parked on the site, and because they believe the parcel lacks the on‑site parking required by code — one neighbor said site constraints leave roughly nine available spaces when the code calls for 14.

Staff recommended approval, noting the parcel’s built character and surrounding commercial zoning. Commissioners discussed whether ambulance parking is permitted under NRC; staff clarified ambulances can be permitted under GC but not NRC. The applicant said the ambulances were staged only because no legal tenant space had been opened and committed to remove all ambulances once NRC is in place and to operate a permitted office/retail use rather than an ambulance station. The commission recommended approval of Z23 with the explicit condition that ambulances be removed from the site once the rezoning is approved.