By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.—The city of Paris is one step closer to having a Hampton Inn after approval by the Paris City Commission of rezoning and an economic impact plan at Thursday night’s meeting.
Public hearings on the economic impact plan were held during the afternoon at the Henry County Commission, Paris Industrial Development Board and at the City Commission, with each panel approving it.
Attorney Tom Trent of Nashville and Knoxville Developer Victor Patel were on hand for the meeting, with Trent outlining the plan, which calls for construction of a four-story hotel which will include 72 rooms, swimming pool, meeting areas and other amenities.
The economic impact plan outlined the expected financial benefits that will come to Paris and Henry County from the project. According to the plan, it is estimated by the tax assessor that the project will have a tax appraisal valuation of approximately $5M when fully assessed at completion. The plan calls for incentives from the Industrial Development Board for a portion of the infrastructure costs.
At the city commission meeting, opposition was voiced to the request to rezone property at 1540 Mineral Wells Ave. to make way for a new Hampton Inn by neighboring property owners.
The property owners, who included Fred Reed, Ron Thomas and Donna Conger, cited increased congestion, traffic and a decreased quality of life with the rezoning.
City Manager Kim Foster and Economic Development Director Jennifer Morris explained that the rezoning of the Mineral Wells parcel to Planned Business was necessary anyway because the parcel (which contains the Premier Nissan) had never been adequately zoned in the first place. Foster
Foster said when the zoning for the Nissan dealership was approved years ago “something was overlooked and it was zoned for a shopping center. That was something we didn’t realize until this new request was presented. It was something that needed to be corrected.”
Property owners said they did not want anything commercial to be approved for their neighborhood and city officials noted that their area already is zoned for commercial growth.
Foster noted, “One of the challenges of city government is to balance developments like this. It’s always a balancing act.”
Mayor Carlton Gerrell and Commissioner Gayle Griffith cited the progress and economic growth that the new Hampton Inn will bring for the city and the county. City officials noted that with the location of a Hampton Inn there, other developments, such as shopping centers, would be more likely to locate there, too.
Griffith said, “For a city to progress, you have to have new businesses. We’ve been trying to get business on that side of town and that area is already zoned commercial. We are looking for what’s best for the city of Paris. We just can’t please every person.”
Property owner Donna Conger said her family has lived in their house for 30 years and were against the highway widening way back when. She said the lights from the Nissan dealership shine in their windows all night and there is constant traffic and congestion. “We feel like they’re pushing us out. We feel like we’re going to be living in the parking lot of the Hampton Inn and it’s making us sick. We’re trying to hold on to all the peace we can.”
In other business:
–Bobby Swayne has been hired as full-time Landfill Manager to replace Anthony McElroy, who resigned.
–The commission approved the right of way request for the north end of Jean Street for Norman Feageans who is opening a restaurant at 10 Fairgrounds Rd. (old Hungry Wolf).
–The commission approved the rezoning request for Hwy. 69N to B-1. The property close to the intersection of Hwy. 69N and West Wood is being developed for a convenience store.
–Gerrell reported the appointment of Linda Searcy to the planning commission.
Photos: top photo, Victor Patel (foreground) and Attorney Tom Trent present the plan for the Hampton Inn to the commission; Property Owner Fred Reed, at the podium, presents his reasons against the plan while City Manager Kim Foster (at screen) illustrates the zoning for the area on the map. (Shannon McFarlin photos).
Menu
