Try as they might, Adams Homes cannot get approval of a project to construct single-family homes in the duplex community of Red Oak Walk near Christian City. The Union City Council voted unanimously Oct. 16 to deny the request.

In a move denied last month by the city’s Planning Commission, Adams Homes AEC, LLC General Manager John Christian in an Aug. 9 letter had requested an amendment to the area’s current zoning stipulating that Red Oak Walk subdivision be a duplex-only development. Adams, the new owner of the property, requested a zoning change to allow single-family detached homes to be constructed on the remaining vacant lots in the development.

“The issue we have with the current zoning is that it is required that the product that is to be built be duplex units. These duplex units, we believe, do not add to the quality and the attractiveness of the neighborhood,” Christian’s letter said. “We would like the remaining lots zoned to accommodate detached town homes. The reason for choosing to go with detached homes is because of the size of the lots.”

The proposed homes ranged from 1,630-2,227 square feet with three or four bedrooms.

As in the meeting with planning commissioners, neighbors objected to the plan. Red Oak Walk resident Alma Shelton Oct. 16 said residents of the 34 duplexes purchased their homes with the understanding that the area would be largely for seniors and that residents bought their homes under those conditions.

“We have no playground here,” Shelton said to the council. “This is a quiet area. Please deny the request for single-family homes.”

Another Red Oak resident, Brenda Braswell agreed, saying residents were told the development would be for seniors. Children that would live in the three and four bedroom homes would have no place to play, Braswell said, adding that children in an adjacent subdivision are already breaking through the fence and coming in to the Red Oak subdivision.

A third neighbor, Dwayne Tucker also asked for a denial, saying that Adams bought a lemon when they purchased the property. The company previously said representatives would meet with neighbors to try to resolve the issues but had not followed through, Tucker said.

Council members needed little discussion to arrive at the conclusion reached in September by planning commissioners, voting 4-0 to deny the request.

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