Disappointed and disgusted
EDITOR:
I attended the public hearing Feb. 21, 2023, at the Anderson County Courthouse to discuss the rezoning of a tract of land on State Highway 61 (Oliver Springs Highway) near Marlow Circle from rural/residential to commercial to allow for the construction of a Dollar General Store.
This was the second public hearing on this rezoning request, because the initial hearings in October and November 2022 with the Anderson County Commission and Anderson Conty Planning Commission were done without adequate public notice, as required by Tennessee state law.
This second public hearing only occurred because I and several of my neighbors brought this to the attention of the county law director.
I live on Highway 61 in an old historic home within a stone’s throw of the property. There are no other commercial operations in this area.
I only became aware of the rezoning after being told by my neighbor who received a registered letter in November. After speaking with other neighbors in the area it was apparent that none of them were aware of it.
I attended the public hearing in November 2022 along with some other neighbors, and we voiced our opposition to the rezoning because of the traffic safety issues, the noise and light pollution, potential increased criminal activity, decrease in property values, and the destruction of the rural atmosphere of the area.
There are four Dollar General Stores within a five-mile radius of this area.
My neighbors and I also attended an Anderson County Commission meeting in December where the developer was requesting a variance for the number of parking spaces. We again voiced our opposition to the rezoning and respectfully requested that the approval be withdrawn until adequate public notice could be given.
I was told by one of the commissioners that I had my chance to speak at the November meeting, so from that point on I should take it up with my commissioners.
So, I wrote an information sheet on the proposed project and distributed it to area residents along Highway 61, in Autumn Ridge, Ivy Lane, and Copeland subdivisions. I provided the names, telephone numbers and email addresses of our district commissioners.
Most of the residents said that this was the first they had heard of the proposed project, and they shared the same concerns we presented to the commission in November. Many stated that the rural atmosphere of the area was the main factor in their decision to purchase their property.
When the second public hearing was announced, my neighbors and I developed a petition and took it around the neighborhood. I did not find anyone in favor of it, a couple of people who were neutral, and most were adamantly opposed.
I received more than 50 signatures on the petition.
At the county commission meeting Tuesday evening there were 15-plus people in attendance who opposed the rezoning, and eight who spoke against it.
There were five people who spoke in favor. All the commissioners had copies of the petition.
Despite the large number of nearby residents who voiced their opposition to this project, the commissioners, who are elected officials whose job it is to represent the voters, property owners, taxpayers and residents of this area, voted to approve the rezoning request, 14 in favor and one opposed.
I was completely disappointed and disgusted, as were the other area residents who attended the meeting.
I think the residents of Anderson County need to be aware of how poorly our commissioners represent our interests. I am curious to know their reasons for supporting this despite the opposition of their constituents.
Bonnie Shoemaker
Clinton
