By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–A rezoning request for 43 Hillcrest Drive died for lack of a motion and will remain as old business on future City of Paris Commission agendas until action is taken on the request.
A number of Hillcrest Drive residents were in attendance at Thursday’s commission meeting and presented a letter to commissioners opposing the rezoning request which was submitted several weeks ago by Justin Stutzman.
Stutzman has requested that the property be rezoned to B-1 (Highway Commercial) from its current R-1L (Residential Low Density). He said potential buyers of his property have liked their home, but not the location with a drive-thru being built adjacent to it so he wanted to have the property rezoned.
In January, the planning commission voted to not recommend approval of the rezoning request. But after more discussion at its February meeting, the planning commission recommended the rezoning.
At Thursday’s City Commission meeting, several residents of the neighborhood spoke out against the rezoning, including Jennifer Culpepper, who noted that the neighborhood spoke out against rezoning at a few years ago for the corner of E. Wood and Hillcrest, which now is the location for Scooter’s drive-thru. She said even though neighbors opposed it, it was approved anyway.
“Hillcrest has always been a residential street” and “quiet and safe” and a good place to take walks, Culpepper said. “We all bought our homes on the understanding that it was a residential district.” She said she is not against growth, but there are other areas for it.
Nicholas and Mariah Walls said this is their first home as a couple and they love the neighborhood but they can’t even walk in the neighborhood anymore with Scooter’s on the corner. They and other neighbors said Scooter’s moving to that spot has increased traffic and decreased safety for residents.
Stutzman said he was one of the neighbors who opposed Scooter’s moving in, but the city went against the wishes of the neighborhood then. “I was with them (the neighbors) the last time and I’m sure the neighbors around where Oaklawn is located now were against that, too, but that’s turned out to be one of the best things for Paris.”
He said he and his wife are affected most by Scooter’s of everyone in the neighborhood, since the activity there is non-stop from 4:30 a.m. on. “When their lights come on, the lights shine all over our house,” he said, noting that he and his wife should be able to get a profit for their home and they cannot as long as it remains zoned residential. He said not all his neighbors on Hillcrest are opposed to the rezoning.
Commissioners John Etheridge and Sam Tharpe said East Wood St. has been growing in recent years.
Etheridge said, ‘That’s what is happening and I don’t see the pattern changing anytime soon. But I also see a need for neighborhood integrity.”
Commissioner Jackie Jones said, “This is a difficult decision. Nothing is more personal than home ownership and where you live.”
City Manager Kim Foster noted the city “tries to influence growth in the most appropriate location. Where is the best place for growth? This is a hard decision and there will be harder ones to come. I’ve seen growth in Paris now in ways I’ve never seen in my lifetime. That’s your challenge as a commission: What is best for the community as a whole.”
Etheridge told the Hillcrest residents that if the commission votes yes on the request, “I encourage you to be at the planning commission about screening and road access.”
Mayor Kathy Ray called for a motion, but there was none.
City Attorney James Smith said after the meeting that with no action on the request, it is automatically tabled and remains on the agenda as old business until action is taken.
In other business:
–Commissioners approved a rezoning request for 1406 Industrial ark Lane from Savannah Vaughn. The request is for property to be rezoned to P-B (Planned Business) from P-M (Planned Industrial District).
–Foster reported the city has received a $1M grant from the USDA for the new fire department being built on Hwy. 79S.
–Foster said an attempted security breach was made from a Russian ‘actor’ on the city’s computer system over the weekend. “I am very happy to report that our security team saw the connection and as a precaution, shut down access to all computer and servers thus preventing what appeared to be a ransom attack. Huge kudos to DPC and their staff for responding immediately on Sunday morning and preventing what could have been catastrophic to our system and data.”
Photo: Jennifer Culpepper speaks at the podium at tonight’s City Commission meeting. Shannon McFarlin photo.