Residents, commissioners raise safety and school-capacity concerns over proposed Dotsonville-area subdivision
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Summary
Residents and multiple commissioners urged caution over proposals to rezone land near Dotsonville/York roads for dense housing, citing narrow, winding roads, emergency-vehicle access, lack of sewer, geological sinkholes, and overloaded schools (Liberty Elementary cited at ~105% capacity). No formal vote on the deferred R1 rezoning was recorded.
Residents and county commissioners raised strong objections on Feb. 2 to proposals that would increase residential density along Dotsonville and York roads, saying local roads, emergency access and schools cannot absorb another large subdivision.
Three residents urged the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners to preserve rural character and reject denser zoning. Anne Murtha of 4168 Moore Hollow Road warned that rezoning 86 acres to allow a 160-house subdivision would create around "320 cars" entering and exiting on curvy stretches and near the Dotsonville/York intersection and that the Woodlawn Utility District is "struggling" and sewer service is not at the property. Julie Biscard, whose house borders the site, said Liberty Elementary is operating at about 105% capacity and currently uses five portables; she also cited sinkholes and cave systems on nearby parcels. Jennifer Conley, president of the Dots and Veil Community Center, described multiple traffic fatalities along Dotsonville and York roads and urged the commission to prioritize safety and rural quality of life.
County commissioners echoed those concerns during discussion of a deferred rezoning (CZ 21-20-25, application of Paul Collins, AG to R1). Commissioner Burkholder estimated roughly 300 lots had been approved within a half-mile in the past year and noted nearby school capacity pressures. Commissioner Jeremiah Walker said, "Dodsonville Road can't handle the traffic that they are now, and you wanna put another 160 houses out there? It's crazy." Commissioner Woodruff expressed specific worry about egress, citing emergency medical services' ability to evacuate residents if there is a single access road.
Staff and the planning commission had previously reviewed related filings, and the county earlier reopened a separate, but nearby, hearing because of a mailing-date error. The meeting included a separate rezoning application (CZ 22-20-25) for a 3.99-acre property to change from Agricultural to C5 (Highway & Arterial Commercial) for a parking lot; that applicant (John Daigle) said he purchased the parcel expecting commercial zoning and wants to provide tractor-trailer parking to prevent vehicles from parking on roads. Planning staff recommended approval of CZ 22-20-25 and noted the County Highway Department required a traffic assessment with limited access to Dover Road.
No formal vote on the deferred CZ 21-20-25 rezoning to R1 was recorded in the transcript; commissioners repeatedly referenced the prior deferral as allowing changes to the proposal. Next procedural steps were not recorded in the public transcript of Feb. 2.
Clarifying details disclosed at the meeting: the contested residential proposal was described as 86 acres and 160 houses (participants computed roughly 320 children at 2 per house ≈ 16 elementary-classroom equivalents); Liberty Elementary was stated to be at about 105% capacity with five portables; staff noted the County Highway Department required a traffic assessment for commercial rezoning applications.
The commission closed the public hearing portion of the agenda and moved into resolutions; the deferred rezoning remained under discussion but no final action was captured in the meeting transcript.