During an Aug. 1 Oak Ridge North Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, city officials and Robinson Road residents discussed the process of rezoning homes on the street from a residential to commercial usage.

“We’ve gotten a petition from the majority of property owners on Robinson Road to rezone properties to commercial zoning,” city attorney Chris Nichols said. “This is no different procedure from any other rezoning; we need to go through all the same requirements and meetings. We also need to discuss what commercial uses should be.”

Fifteen properties west of Blueberry Hill Drive on Robinson Road are listed on the petition that requests another zoning classification to allow for commercial uses. Nichols said the issue will take several meetings, along with public hearings, reports made to the City Council and notification to property owners within 200 feet of properties that may be rezoned.

Residents at the meeting were also given a list of examples and possible guidelines of Robinson Road rezoning issues and housing uses. City Manager Vicky Rudy said the zoning ideas are in no way a proposal and are just examples of what exists in other places.

Some of the examples listed for possible zoning rules are that no business-related sounds should be audible from the dwelling; only low-impact businesses are allowed, such as professional services and office services, and there are required sidewalks and landscaping for homes that are converted to a business.

“These are examples of possible zoning ideas meant as a conversation starter,” Rudy said. “It’s a worksheet, and it’s what exists out there in other places.”

Residents at the meeting made it clear to the P&Z department members that they want the proposed zoning change to have the option of selling their homes in the future as part of commercial zoning, or to convert their homes into a business as part of the commercial zoning. If the commercial zoning request goes through, homes will be transformed to businesses rather than strip centers.

Oak Ridge North resident Al Overstreet said homes would be hard to sell as part of residential zoning because of the proposed construction to alleviate traffic on Robinson Road.

“Our intention is to not just take a fortune and up and leave,” Overstreet said. “Most of us are going to stay there. This is only giving us an option to sell our home in case.”

Cleo Tarver, chairman of the planning and zoning commission, told residents at the meeting the commission will continue to consider their request. The petition for rezoning will be a continuous agenda item at future P&Z deparment meetings.