A request to transfer ownership of portions of several roadways from the county to the City of Smithville will be moving on to the full county commission after the DeKalb County Regional Planning Commission voted to recommend the change. The decision came amidst protest amongst some local residents who say the proposed development would increase traffic, cause water runoff issues, and may interfere with airport operations.
The streets in the recommendation are portions of Parkway Drive, Allen Street, Shady Drive and 2nd Street, near the Smithville Airport. In between those sections of roads, property owner Larry Hasty plans to develop the area as a residential subdivision. In order to provide sewer hookups, Hasty petitioned the City of Smithville to annex the property, leading to a request to the county to turn over ownership of the roads to Smithville.
On November 8, local residents attended a meeting of the DeKalb County Regional Planning Commission to voice their concerns over the proposed annexation. DeKalb County Planner Tommy Lee told those in attendance that the annexation was in the hands of Smithville, and their purpose was whether to recommend transferring the roads in question to the city. Ricky Holloway, Charles Wonder, Henrietta Caldwell, Sonny Stults, Brandy Liggett, and Kenny Stults spoke out against the plan, with Holloway submitting a petition signed by signed by 104 area residents in opposition.
The residents told the commission that there are already concerns over heavy traffic in the area due to the factories located nearby, and that the roads are already deteriorating. They say that with more homes in the area, traffic would be even worse in a residential area with children.
“We’re going to oppose this whole development. The city said that they’re not even interested in developing that if the county doesn’t go ahead and let them annex these roadways,” said Charles Wonder of Big Hurricane Road.
They also raised concerns over water runoff from the property, and that during times of heavy rain flooding in the area already takes place. They say that with more development the water will be diverted, possibly making flooding worse. The property also includes wetlands with a wildlife habitat.
“The head of Eagle Creek actually starts in the swamp, which is about dead center of the property. It is a listed wetland. That water is going to go somewhere, which will be onto an adjacent property,” Sonny Stults told the commission.
Residents also raised the issue of the nearby airport. Part of the property would be within the flightpath of the runway, with one home in an adjacent neighborhood already having to be torn down due to flightpath restrictions.
Mr. Hasty was also in attendance and tried to answer some of the concerns. “I did bring this project before this board in 2015. We got preliminary approval for a plat to do something like 52 lots on this land, and that was impossible to do without sewer. So, I spent five or six years working with the city at different times trying to get this project worked out on sewer. The conclusion we have come to is if I am going to be on sewer the project has to be in the city. That is the reason for annexation and that discussion led to if the property is to be annexed then the city needs to maintain the roads around the property,” Hasty said.
“Anytime you have development, you’re going to have increased traffic,” Hasty continued. “I don’t have a plan in place right now, but I can tell you it’s been reduced from 52 homes to 40 or less. I’ve got to develop the property either in the county or the city. That’s what I need to do. I plan on doing a nice project.”
In the end there was some dissention amongst the planning commission. Member Bruce Malone made a motion that the county reject the request to turn over ownership of the roads in question, with Jenny Trapp seconding the motion. The motion failed on a five to two vote.
The matter will now go before the full county commission at their regular monthly session on Monday, November 22, at 6:30 p.m. at the Mike Foster Multi-Purpose Center. Smithville will hold a public hearing on the annexation issue on December 6, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall before their regular monthly.
