The Adel City Council chamber was filled passed capacity at the most recent Council meeting, and the topic on most people’s minds was a public hearing on a rezoning request.

Peak Development had twice petitioned the Adel Planning and Zoning Commission to rezone property they own off North 15th Street near Adel Elementary, and both times it was denied. Peak was wanting to move from low-density residential (R-3) to high-density residential (R-1), so they could have 50 housing units in their Brickyard Summit development. Planning and Zoning raised concerns on traffic safety, environmental issues, and others. Peak Owner Travis Sisson worked to address those issues and then brought his request directly to the Council.

The public hearing began with Mayor Jim Peters reading the explanations given by Planning and Zoning for originally opposing the rezone request. Sisson and his team then went over their plans, including research they did to counter the Commission’s concerns. After that, members of the public were able to ask questions and state their objections. Ten individuals spoke against the rezone, most of whom were neighbors to the development. Peak was able to give counter arguments to most of the protestations. The Council considered all the information received during the hearing, and eventually voted against the request.

Sisson and his team were disappointed, but will still continue work on Brickyard Summit. However, the development will have about half of the houses they had been hoping for.