Development authority’s request to rezone 100-acre parcel for industrial park tabled after neighborhood opposition

The Walker County Board of Commissioners voted to table for one month a rezoning request from the Walker County Development Authority that would convert roughly 100 acres from agricultural to industrial near the existing Walker County Business Park.

The applicant: Andy Arnold, mayor of Lafayette and chair of the Walker County Development Authority, and Stephanie Watkins, the authority’s executive director, told commissioners the authority purchased about 100 acres in October 2022 to expand the county’s industrial park and said the additional acreage is necessary to compete for projects that need readily available utilities, rail access and fiber. “The development authority purchased approximately a hundred acres in October of 2022,” Watkins told the board.

Why it matters: Residents from the adjacent Noble community and nearby properties urged the board to deny rezoning, citing noise, light, water and soil pollution, property-value loss, and vehicle and train traffic. David Boyle, identified as chair of the Noble Neighborhood Community Association and a long-time county resident, presented a circulated petition asking the board to deny the request. Stacy White said the proposed industrial zoning “will impact our properties” and listed “noise pollution, light pollution, water and soil pollution” as community concerns. Diane Cousineau asked the applicants, “What are your plans for setbacks and buffers of a size substantial enough to protect our property values and ensure our ability to enjoy our property?”

Planning commission and board action: The county planning commission had recommended denial, citing available acreage elsewhere in the park. Commissioners and applicants discussed site constraints such as wetlands, easements, and usable acreage. During the May 1 meeting a commissioner moved to table the application for one month to allow the board time to gather further data and hear more from neighbors; the motion was seconded and the board voted unanimously to table. The item will return to the June meeting.

Supporting details: The development authority said particular site layouts or easements made some existing park acreage less usable; the authority also said it will pursue light manufacturing rather than heavy industry and that buffers of at least 50 feet would be a baseline that could be expanded depending on the company.

Ending: The board’s one-month tabling gives staff time to collect additional traffic, environmental and buffer data and gives residents time to provide further written comments before the June meeting.