Greensboro City Council approves an annexation rezoning of property despite neighbor concerns

Greensboro City Council approved the rezoning and annexation of a property on Hickory Tree Lane that some neighbors worry could bring another group home to the area.

Ronald Benjamin says he's requesting the rezoning because he only wants to have somewhere for him and his wife to retire. He says others feel he may be looking to make a group home because he is in that business.

"We like the community, it's a beautiful community and we want to keep it that way," Benjamin says.

The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended denial of the application at its meeting in November. But the City Council voted 8 to 1 in favor of the annexation on Tuesday, with council member Sharon Hightower voting against it.

Resident Ernest Allen says he's lived on Hickory Tree Lane for nearly 50 years, and there's already a group home in the area.

"If indeed he's going to be a man of his word, you judge a man by his words and his character and he's indicated to me twice as to what his plans are, I will remove my opposition for Mr. Benjamin to move on with this project," says Allen.

Mayor Nancy Vaughan says if the applicant were to try to build a group home he would need to appear before the Board of Adjustments.