Several Smithville residents voiced their opposition to a rezoning request last week, leading the Smithville Board of Mayor and Aldermen to take no action on the request. The rezoning measure was requested by Sullivan Walter Homes. LLC for 11.85 acres of a 39.49-acre property, located adjacent to Walmart. The request was to rezone from R-1 (residential) to C-1 (commercial).
The city planning commission met March 11 and recommended rezoning the property, but at a public hearing eleven residents spoke in opposition to the proposal. Residents of Oakhaven Subdivision showed up to ask the aldermen to deny the request.
Four years ago, a previous owner of the property, Jada Cantrell, also came before the mayor and aldermen. At that time, she had wanted the entire property to be rezoned from R-1 residential to C-1 commercial. There was opposition on the proposal then, with the request denied despite a recommendation from the planning commission.
At the latest meeting, residents again raised concerns about the impact potential commercial development would have on the value of their property; possible increase in traffic and crime, and health and sanitation issues.
The mayor and aldermen heard from residents of Oak Glen Drive and Stone Haven Drive, including Tony Fuston, Thena Edwards, Brittany Bogle, Dustin Bogle, Lauren Allen Burdick, Jason Lattimore, Chris McMillen, Jeannie Smith, John Parker, Nikki Yarbrough, and Phil Roberts, all opposed to the proposed rezoning request.
The owner of the property, Tonya Sullivan, said that while the property is for sale, she does not have a buyer. “This is our property that we are talking about. I haven’t spoken to anyone. The property is for sale and part of it is already commercial. We (Sullivan Walter Homes) do not want to impede on these folks (neighbors). We were trying to go back (rezone) even with Walmart (property line).”
“At some point we would like to develop the other 30 something acres into housing,” Sullivan explained. “Everybody here is painting a picture. The neighborhood is super nice. That is absolutely true, but I am here to tell you that the homeless people have almost taken that property over. Very often (law enforcement) is calling me asking if they can go in and remove the tents and the trash. At different times, they have had to bring in dumpsters and a dozer at one time or some type of heavy equipment to go in and clean up the homeless that are in that area.”
But residents were not convinced, adding worries about property values and increased traffic.
“I think if this were approved, the values would significantly depreciate with all or most homes in the subdivision,” Fuston said.
“Oakhaven is like a dream neighborhood,” said Lattimore. “You go through there most evenings, and you will see kids riding their bikes, families taking a walk after dinner, or dads playing ball with their kids. Allowing commercial development to encroach right up to the edge of this neighborhood is not the way to go.”
“I am from here (Smithville) but I once lived in Nashville, close to commercial property, and it was a headache,” Smith said. “I lived behind a theater and the racket from them emptying those dumpsters would wake me up. My condo was also broken into and I believe it had a lot to do with the fact that I was backed up to that commercial property.”
“I want to know what you are bringing to our back yard,” asked Dustin Bogle.
Sullivan said she understood resident’s concerns and said she planned to work with the neighborhood. “We feel like it’s not right for us not to be able to sell the front part of that all the way equal (with Walmart). At some point you (city) had to approve the James Ed Rice property there where Walmart sets and for it to be commercial. We are just asking for the same fair treatment. I do appreciate these folks coming out and I don’t have any ill feelings. I consider most of them friends. I understand their concerns. Even if you grant this, we want to work with them (neighbors) to protect their property. That would only be fair to them,” added Sullivan.
In the end, aldermen had issues with the proposal. “I can very easily put myself in their (neighbors’) shoes,” said Alderman Jessica Higgins. “I have been that mom with young kids and I love where we live and there is not a lot of traffic. That is hard for me to disassociate myself from. I am a little bit troubled with not knowing what is going in there as well,” said Alderman Higgins.
Alderman Beth Chandler wanted to ask Sullivan a question prior to action on the request but Mayor Josh Miller said the aldermen could not engage the audience at that point during the meeting.
Mayor Josh Miller then asked whether any aldermen wanted to make a motion to accept the proposal. The measure failed with the lack of a motion.
