By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–The Paris Municipal Regional Planning Commission Thursday evening unanimously approved a minor subdivision plat for Weston Hall, a move which will enable the county to proceed with other actions involving the building.
Weston Hall was built in 1948 and originally housed a gymnasium, auditorium and classrooms. After a renovation, Weston Hall currently houses the County Archives, Elections Commission and Genealogical Library, as well as the Airborne Academy.
At Thursday’s meeting, Henry County Mayor Randy Geiger said he will propose to the County Commission in April that the county-owned TRC building be renovated to house the Archives, Elections Commission, Genealogy Library and the Veterans Services office. The TRC building is the Tennessee Rehabilitation Center located on Hwy. 79S.
Those offices would be located in a portion of the TRC building and the county will be applying for a BRAG (Brownfield Redevelopment Area Grant) administered by the state for the renovations.
The long-term plan most probably will be for Weston Hall to be demolished, he said. “The building has outlived its usefulness”, he said.
With the Weston Hall property owned by the Henry County Board of Education and not Henry County itself, it was necessary to seek the minor subdivision plat for the property in order for the county to proceed with applying for the BRAG grant.
What the request amounted to was separating Weston Hall from the school and make it its own parcel, although it will create non-conformities.
City Manager Kim Foster said the action by the planning commission essentially will “clean up things that were done before. Today, we’re trying to clean up something that was started a long time ago. We don’t have a lot of options, but this will allow the county to go forward.”
Former County Mayor Brent Greer, who is now a member of the planning commission, reminded everyone that 15 years ago “the plan was to tear down Weston Hall, but there was such an uproar in the community about tearing the auditorium down.”
In other business:
—Commissioners honored the late Gayle Griffith, who was a long-time City Commissioner and Planning Commission member. Chairman Richard Edwards said, “We lost a great person, a friend to a lot of people here. He was always involved with both the city commission and the planning commission. I’d like us to recognize Gayle and his years of service.”
Commission Member Dickie Mobley agreed, noting Griffith’s accomplishments. Mayor Kathy Ray, who is a member of the planning commission, said, “He was special to all of us.”
–The Commission approved the recommendation that a rezoning request for 1406 Industrial Park Lane be referred to the city commission. The request was filed by Savannah Vaughn for property she owns at 1406 Industrial Park Lane. The property is zoned P-M (Planned Industrial District). She requests rezoning to P-B (Planned Commercial District).
–The Commission approved a site plan for Forbes Drives sought by Jamison Townsend. Townsend submitted a site plan for the construction of two office buildings of approximately 9,800 square feet on Forbes Drive. The property is zoned B-1 (Highway Commercial) and the proposed development is consistent with the permitted uses for this zoning district, according to Community Development Director Jessica Crouch.
Photo: City Manager Kim Foster points to map showing Industrial Park Lane rezoning request. Shannon McFarlin photo.