The Albemarle City Council voted 4-3 to deny a rezoning request by Faith Alive Ministries on July 7. Photo courtesy City of Albemarle

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ALBEMARLE — At the Albemarle City Council meeting on Monday night, the council narrowly voted down a request from Faith Alive Ministries that would have rezoned a 0.48-acre residential property to a hospital medical district classification.

Councilmembers David Hunt, Bill Aldridge and Dexter Townsend voted in favor of the rezoning of 936 North Fifth Street; Mayor Pro-Tem Martha Sue Hall and Councilmembers Chris Bramlett Benton Dry voted against the move.

The request was specifically to allow for the property to serve as a mixed-use area for both an administrative office space and a temporary foster care housing center in partnership with the Stanly County Department of Social Services.

Because of Councilmember Chris Whitley’s absence, Mayor Ronnie Michael was responsible for the final vote to break a 3-3 stalemate.

His tiebreaking vote was against the rezoning request, citing the surrounding area of the property and the inconsistency that a zoning change would bring.

“I’m not opposed to the reason or method to use the house,” Michael said. “I do have concerns that we are breaking up a residential lot where the entire block is residential, and we consistently hear that we do not have affordable housing in our city. Therefore, I am going to vote no.”

Dry echoed the mayor’s sentiments: “If we go in the other way, we’re going to set a precedent that might be a little difficult to deal with in the future. It’s not that I’m against what they’re wanting to do. I’m in full favor of that and I’d be happy to find other areas that would not break up neighborhoods. In God’s eyes, this (rezoning) might be the right thing to do, but in reality we have to make hard decisions — this is probably the hardest one I’ve ever had to make.”

Jordan Whitley, co-founder and executive director of Faith Alive Ministries, had previously explained during the meeting that she wanted the building to serve as a “short-term overnight refuge” for children inside the foster care system.

“Our mission is simple yet vital: to meet the physical and spiritual needs of orphans, widows and the broken-hearted, which is a mission grounded in James 1:27 and carried out through hands-on compassionate care,” Whitley said. “Right now, many children are removed from unsafe homes and spend their first night on an air mattress at DSS, scared, confused, and without a sense of security.”

Aldridge, who voted in favor of the rezoning request, acknowledged that the situation was a “tough deal” but noted that the Albemarle Planning and Zoning Board had voted 4-0 in favor of the request.

“This was just not the location for that home to break up a general residential area, but I wish you well in finding another location,” Michael said to representatives of Faith Alive Ministries after the vote.

The Albemarle City Council is set to hold its next regular meeting on July 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.