By JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer
A proposed 11-acre commercial subdivision across from Wal-Mart in Cabot that is opposed by the people who own the homes behind the proposed development received the green light Tuesday night. The Cabot Planning Commission voted 3-2 to recommend to the city council rezoning the residential property for commercial use.
The council will vote on the rezoning later this month, and the residents of the Sun Terrace subdivision who have fought it since they learned about it after the December planning commission meeting will meet twice to work on their argument against it. Their presentation to the commission Tuesday included a slide show of statistics gathered from the state that showed, to no one’s surprise, that traffic has worsened in the area. They also are concerned about maintaining a quiet residential neighborhood, security, noise pollution, light pollution and declining property values.
Matt Bell, one of the developers, said he had compared property values in other subdivisions in town that are near commercial developments. The homes sell quickly and for about 99 percent of the asking price. Bell promised sidewalks and curbs and guttering the subdivision and improved traffic flow from a double left turn lane onto Hwy. 89. The ridge on the property will be graded so that the view of the businesses would be obscured. And no hotels, motels, auto sales, convenience stores, garages, liquor stores or adult book stores would be allowed.
No metal buildings would be allowed, he said. But Matt Webber, who voted against the rezoning, said the commission had none of those promises in writing. Steven Miles also voted against the rezoning. Voting for it were James Reid, Dennis Hyland and Claude Irvin. State Rep. Susan Schulte, who lives in the neighborhood, asked the commission to turn down the rezoning.
But Calvin Aldridge, who also lives there, told the commission that he was in favor of it and just wanted them to know that not everyone was against it.
“I moved here for the quiet life and country living,” Aldridge said. “It’s gotten crowded. But I appreciate the convenience of the businesses that have grown up.” Aldridge also pointed out that other property in the area has been rezoned for commercial use and that to deny this one would be unjust.
“I don’t see how you cannot rezone this when you’ve done it on either side,” he said.
