IS ANYONE LISTENING? (In Florence)

 

For years, the Florence planning commission has seemed to be some mysterious body which made decisions on rezoning of property in the city. If you ask 100 citizens on Court Street who is on the committee and what it does: it is almost a sure bet, you will get “I don’t know” for an answer from 99. Lately, and especially with the last two meetings, it appears that there is much more interest in what this commission does and who are the members.

What has gone on at the last two meetings, you may ask? The meeting held on Oct. 9th was for the rezoning of property located on Wright Drive in the Alexander Heights/Sherwood Forest subdivision area of North Florence for a Publix grocery store located in a new shopping center. While those in other areas of Florence may applaud the addition of a new Publix in the city limits, those who live in this area who appeared before the commission stated their disapproval of the project. Many made impassioned pleas. Destroying property values of “forever” family homes seemed to be at the top of the reasons given by those in opposition to building a grocery store “across the street”. But a close second was traffic concern and right behind this in third place was the lack of infrastructure. Many of the surrounding homeowners talked of low water pressure and sewer systems backing up in their yards now and questioned what the additional load from this new development would create to an already strained system. Not to mention water drainage issues. And the traffic nightmare that this would cause on a narrow two-lane road like Wright Drive connecting two major thoroughfares like Chisolm and Cloverdale Roads with the increase in traffic to a Publix grocery store was mentioned by each dissenting citizen. After all, this was cutting through two subdivisions with single family homes and small children riding bicycles on the streets!

One of the proposals on the agenda for the meeting held on Oct. 22nd was the rezoning on Old Chisolm Road for an apartment complex. While this project did not bring out the throngs of concerned surrounding homeowners that the Publix grocery proposal did, the few that questioned this development also voiced concerns for traffic on an old poorly lit road with no curb and guttering and the effect the increase in surrounding population would have on existing infrastructure. Once again, this would increase traffic in a residential subdivision only this time going past one of the Forest Hills elementary school playgrounds. The same arguments were made as with the Publix project regarding the lack of water pressure in the area, questionable sewer lines and problems with water run off from rainy weather. 

DOES ANYONE SEE A PATTERN HERE? Jim Stanphill, the chairman of this committee, is quick to point out that this group is only a regulatory body. He refers all concerns voiced by surrounding homeowners and interested citizens to the street and engineering departments for traffic and infrastructure. If they have no authority concerning infrastructure and traffic concerns for rezoning, some may ask: Why does this committee seem to approve most proposals that come before it? Why not table a proposal until information from the different departments can be obtained. While infrastructure and traffic concerns are not actually in the purview of a developer, it should be the paramount concern of the city to ensure the well-being of the citizens effected by a new project.

The bottom line for both meetings was the committee did spend quite a bit of time listening to the concerns of the surrounding homeowners. But, when it came time to vote for the “recommendation” which would be forwarded to the city council for approval, the vote was in the affirmative. And as a city hall junkie, this reporter can tell you that I do not recall many instances of the city council not approving the “recommendation” of the planning commission. Just who is recommending that Florence improves our roads, our drainage system and our sewers? The citizens who come before these commission meetings with concerns for new developments certainly are. Where is the mayor and city council on these problems?

HELLO? Is anyone listening?

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