Council allowed Mayor Emery Doughtie to sit out ondiscussion of the matter and the subsequent public hearing since he owns property in the development.

Analysis by the city's planning and development department shows the recombination of the properties would reduce the density of the housing permitted within the subdivision, according to a memo from Planning and Development Director Kelly Lasky contained in this evening's council agenda packet.

The two tracts — B and C — consist of 22 lots in B and 12 lots in C, both intended for single family housing development.

Tract B contains 12.489 aces while C contains 14.856 acres.

The public hearing comes after the proposal cleared the planning board last month.

Robbie Davis, president of the DRM Group LLC wrote in an August 9 letter to Lasky, “Our single purpose in filing this map is to re-phase the development of the property … The sole purpose is to do the project in phases but not to change the original layout.”

RBD Investments bought 77 lots of the former Rivers Edge subdivision after the city initiated a tax foreclosure proceeding against the original developers of the property.

RBD Investments acquired 77 lots for single family development along with a 2.849 acre riverfront, a 6.94 acre future development parcel fronting Old Farm Road and a 22-acre future development parcel that includes Rivers Edge Parkway and Skipping Stone Way.

RBD Investments deeded the property to DRM.

Currently, six of the original 98 lots approved in the 2007 conditional use permit have been developed.

Gene Minton, one of the partners in DRM, told council the developers would abide by the six original stipulations of the original conditional use permit.

Those stipulations deal with 2007 sketch plans; approval of crossing of the navigation canal by the Roanoke Canal Commission; the preservation of trees and other natural features; drawings to determine compliance with city ordinances and codes; final plat approval and development that is in conformity of a conservation easement between the developers and the canal commission.

“We have received positive feedback,” Minton said. “The only thing we want to happen is to re-phase and do it in an orderly fashion. We've cleaned it up and made it look good.”

Minton said part of the plans include a public access to the river.

Wayne Smith, a Roanoke Rapids resident who has filed to run for city council, said during the public hearing, said, “I've been coming to city council meetings quite a while. It seems it's never been developed like it should. I think with the plans they have it will be a good idea. I know they will do a good job.”