The controversial planned development of a section of property located near the Smithville Airport suffered another blow last week, after an annexation resolution failed to pass the Smithville Board of Aldermen.

Local developer Larry Hasty had planned for a subdivision to be built on the 13-acre property off Parkway Drive, with intentions to build 40 homes on the site. Hasty had asked Smithville to annex his property in order to tie into the city’s sewer system, with building regulations requiring a gravity-fed sewer lines.

The Smithville Board of Aldermen had initially passed the resolution on first reading with conditions, mainly that DeKalb County relinquish ownership of the roads surrounding the property to the city.

Initially the annexation looked as if it would be passed after on November 8, the DeKalb County Planning Commission approved giving over control of portions of Allen Street, Shady Drive, Second Street, and Parkway Drive to the city, despite vocal opposition and a petition with 104 signatures from area residents.

Those same residents also attended a public hearing at the full DeKalb County Commission on November 18, where they again voiced their opposition, raising concerns over possible flooding from runoff from the site, as well as increased traffic and the deterioration of the roadways.

But, a new concern was raised after a letter was presented to the commission by Smithville’s airport consulting engineer, citing concerns over air traffic at the airport, and limitations over possible future expansion of the runway. The engineer advised against the development.

On November 22, the County Commission voted not to turn over the roads to Smithville.

During the regular meeting of the Smithville Board of Aldermen, on December 6, the annexation resolution was up on second reading and once again local residents were in attendance to oppose the plan.

Ronnie Garrison of Big Hurricane Road told the council that he had concerns over water and safety. “I’m about 100 yards from where this planned annexation is. I’ve spent a lot of money cleaning my place up. I’ve got horses and cattle, and I’d just assume not have this water that comes from this swamp. That’s all it is, a swamp. And, when he builds these houses, that’s going to add to the traffic. I’d like to ask the council not to annex this into the city.”

Airport Manager Katelyn Sanders also attended the meeting stating reasons she felt the city should not annex the property. “I would vote not to see this annexation happen for multiple reasons. One, the city has spent a lot of money buying property around the airport to ensure the safety of not only pilots, but also the people who own that property around the airport. Although all the property being discussed this evening may not be in the airport protection zone, it is merely yards from the zone, so I don’t think it would offer a sense of security for those who would even want to live there.”

“Another reason is noise,” Sanders continued. “Currently we do not control traffic at hours of the night so it could be 2 a.m. that a jet or plane can fly over your house and wake you or your kids up. That is something I would not want to happen to me in my home, and I would not want any complaints coming back to me or the airport for something that I or the city can’t control.”

“Just for a sense of security for pilots as well, I don’t think they would want to fly over a subdivision in case a rare emergency happens, they might land into a house or a subdivision, where we are already paying a lot of money to clear out,” Sanders concluded.

Ricky Holloway of Shady Drive presented the aldermen the petition and addressed the meeting saying that his property already flood and the issue would be made worse with the development. “It’s going to flood my yard even worse, and the roads can’t handle it. I’ve lived in that area about 27 years now. It’s peaceful and quiet, and I’d love to keep it that way.”

Bruce Turner, who owns two homes in the area, also stated concerns over water runoff, while Charles Wunder of Big Hurricane Road stated three reasons he was against the plan. “Safety has to be first. With densely populated areas there are going to be problems. Safety problems mainly with traffic. That is one of our main concerns. These roads are not developed for the amount of traffic that would be created by this development. There are no sidewalks. What that means is, kids play right up to the road. There is already a problem with speeding. Speed limit signs have recently been erected. There is a problem with accidents. Traffic is already increasing because of the industrial park. So, it’s a major concern, the speeding and excessive traffic as a result of this.”

Secondly, this area is a wetland area. If you develop this area it will create a couple of problems. The water is going to go somewhere. It will go into neighboring homes and neighboring mini farms, and also on county roads not being annexed, and Big Hurricane Road is one of those roads.

Thirdly is the airport. I don’t see why the city would take over or not allow a playground area adjacent to the airport and then allow residential construction there,” said Wunder.

Hasty then addressed the board saying that he had worked on developing the property for six years. ““I have owned this property for 16 years and for the last six I have been coming to the county and city talking about developing this property. We determined it needed to be on sewer. I have had a half dozen meetings with you guys to talk about sewer. I have agreed not to do grinder pumps or a pump station. I did agree to gravity sewer which is what the city requires.”

“It is unfortunate that at a workshop meeting with the county a letter was read written by an engineer for the airport. This lady spoke to you today against this project from the airport.  I don’t know if any of these people are aware or not that I spent three years dealing with the senior project manager/coordinator from the airport, as well as the senior planner from the airport. We spent three years and we worked out an agreement for me to give them a major overhead easement over my property, which I have done. I sold a piece of property to make their (airport runway protection zone) complete. I have done everything I can to cooperate with what’s needed and what I have been asked to do.”

“I really have no control over the annexation of the streets,” Hasty continued. “It’s unfortunate that that letter was read at a county meeting, because that letter really put a smokescreen on commissioners to understand what was going on. People at the airport must not know what one hand is doing to the other. I have been working with those people for three years. They have been very good to work with and I don’t think they would want to grant an easement and buy property from me and turn around and disapprove a project that the city has been working on with me for years.”

“The conclusion is I have been coming up here for a long time. I want you to annex my property and do the right thing. Vote your conscious, not some public outcry from people who all they’ve got to say is they really don’t want it there,” said Hasty.

After the public hearing the regular meeting of the Smithville Board took place and the letter from the engineer seemed to be the deciding factor.

During the meeting Alderman Brandon Cox said, “Their recommendation (city engineer) is that we do not annex this property, and they gave a number of reasons. One of them was that a new subdivision would create a barrier to (future) runway extension. Were we to annex this and the development should occur, and then we want to later continue expansion of the runway and the airport runway protection zone is expanded, we would have to do more purchases and easements. So, how much more would it cost the city in the future? Our job is to look out for the best interest of the city.”

Alderman Cox also pointed out that the city closed the children’s playground near the airport because of the runway flightpath, and asked why the city would approve development on an adjacent property. “This is the biggest complaint I have had from a lot of people. We tore down Airport Park because of this and now you are going to allow houses to be built right across the street from it. That doesn’t seem right.”

In the end the lack of a motion to approve the annexation on second reading ended the issue. The resolution failed.