Thursday, June 23, 2011
Citizens Opposed To Zoning Change
A number of residents turned out for a meeting of the Lawrenceburg Board of Mayor and Council Thursday morning, uniting in opposition to a zoning change that might land a commercial chicken barn/business in their back yards.
Council members were slated to vote on an ordinance to allow the rezoning of property situated inside the city limits on O’Henry Drive. The parcel in question includes property belonging to Lewis and Donna Thomas and a portion of the Virginia Thomas estate.
On recommendation of the Lawrenceburg Planning Commission, commissioners were asked to rezone the property from the current Residential-2 designation to Residential-1.
Residents addressing the council expressed concern that, should the chicken business be established there, it might pose a public health hazard to the populated neighborhood, and could contaminate nearby Shoal Creek.
Noise and smell issues were discussed, and one resident said she feared allowing the change might “pave the way for things that are undesirable in our community.”
City Attorney Alan Betz explained that the council needed to follow proper procedures and approve the ordinance on first reading. He emphasized that the change cannot become effective until after a public hearing is held and a second approval received.
Mayor Keith Durham assured residents that, although procedurally the council could not take public outcry into consideration on the first vote, any concerns expressed during the public hearing will have a great bearing on the second and final vote.
Once the ordinance was approved on first reading a public hearing was scheduled to be held during the council’s next bi-monthly business meeting. The public hearing will get underway at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 14, 2011.
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