| City Council denies zoning request by tornado victims |
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By: CHRISTIAN GRANTHAM, Post Contributor
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Posted: Friday, October 29, 2010 9:40 am
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Neighbors for and against a proposed rezoning of nine homes located north of Wilkinson Pike and west of West Park Drive filled The Murfreesboro City Council chambers Thursday night.
Several residents, including State Sen. Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro), ultimately persuaded the city council to deny the request by homewoners directly impacted by the Good Friday tornado after raising quality of life issues including flooding, sprawl and encroachment on the Stones River Battlefield.
"I've lived here all my life," local resident Laura Inman told the council. "What I'm asking is that you do not rezone this and leave the neighborhood alone."
Inman and other residents whose homes would be directly behind the nine lots under rezoning consideration fear their privacy and quality of life would be impacted by the presence of businesses in their back yard.
"I would not mind having an office in my front yard," local resident Pat Bolen said. "But when I wake up and have a coffee with my jammies on, I want to feel like I have some privacy."
Many residents agreed with Stuart K. Johnson, superintendent of the Stones River National Battlefield, who feared the rezoning would encroach on what many described as a national treasure.
"If this zoning is approved it will be the ultimate demise of these neighborhoods," Johnson said. "It's in the best interest of the park service to have residential next to us than to have businesses up against the park areas."
Local resident David Glass recounted his trip to Gettysburg and how the local community impressed upon him the value they see in protecting the Civil War tourist destination.
"When people stop there at the welcome center and they are directed down Wilkinson Pike, right now it's trees and a nice drive into that park. We need to think about that," Glass told the council.
Long time resident Charlene Hinkle gave voice to several residents who see a huge value in protecting and showcasing the battlefield.
"When people would pull in and ask us where the battlefield is, we love that," Hinkle said. "We have yet to have anyone enter our driveway and ask us to direct them to the nearest liquor store or strip mall."
At the heart of the denied rezoning request is a heartbreaking story of loss from the devastating Good Friday Tornado and the resident trying to pick up the pieces of their lives. Residents want a rezoning in hopes of selling their property so they can rebuild elsewhere.
Many of those who spoke shared uncertainty of rebuilding in an area surrounded by commercial development while others spoke of unpaid insurance claims, difficulty selling and being forced to live in mobile homes or with relatives. Those opposed expressed sympathies for the victims.
"There is lot of emotion in the room." Thomas Lewis said. "They lost everything. No one is trying to capitalize off this. But I think it's a logical and inevitable thing that's going to happen there."
Many residents brought up the fact that the city and county have left local residents in the Gateway area with significant flooding problems. Many residents demanded the city and county halt rezoning until they work together to solve the flooding problems caused by rapid development.
"I've talked to the county as late as today and they said they have talked previously, just discussions of maybe getting together and talking, about what they are going to do with the water," Ketron said. "But I don't think anything has been addressed at this point."
Many residents complained about several feet of flooding caused by an inch and a half of rain that fell in August.
"You talk to the city and they say you are in the county and that's a county problem. The county says that's city water," Bolen said. "You all have to work better together."
The vote against the rezoning request by the tornado victims was unanimous. |
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