By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

CHELSEA – The Chelsea City Council voted Dec. 2 to accept a rezoning request for a parcel of land located next to Lakewood subdivision on Shelby County 32.

The rezoning request, which was approved by the Chelsea Planning Commission during a public hearing Nov. 25, was initially submitted by Jason Spinks for To Preach the Gospel, Inc. to have the 45-acre parcel rezoned from agricultural-residential (A-R) to residential (E-1).

City Engineer Frank Spencer confirmed the zoning would be appropriate for the specified area.

During the Nov. 25 hearing, Spinks described To Preach the Gospel as a missionary organization whose charge is to support ministers and to build churches across the world, and he said the group saw the property as “a good long-term investment.”

Chelsea Mayor Earl Niven said if the organization chooses to build houses on the property, he doesn’t foresee it building more than 10-12 houses on individual lots within the 45-acre parcel as some lots would be located in a floodplain.

The organization would have to meet E-1 standards and codes for construction, and would need to present preliminary plans to the commission.

The council will hold a public hearing for the rezoning request in January.

In other business Dec. 2, the council approved to pay the city’s bills.