Planning Commission recommends rezoning ~15 acres at 289 Lee Hwy to Commercial

At the July 25 joint public hearing, Myrtle Properties LLC requested a map amendment to rezone roughly 15 acres at 289 Lee Highway (a portion of Tax Map No. 54-A-28) from Agricultural/Rural to Commercial; the applicant had initially proposed Industrial but amended the request to Commercial. Heather Luttrell, appearing by Zoom, described benefits including addressing blight and asserted traffic impacts would be less than other development scenarios; she said specifics about the business were under confidentiality but said it would involve trailer modification and steel fabrication.

Several neighbors, including Joyce McGhee, Thomas McGee, Robert Hicks and Steve Smith, spoke in opposition, expressing concerns about loss of agricultural land, increased dust and noise, and cumulative impacts given existing industrial activity in the area. Kendra Hayden of Economic Development stressed transparency limits for the EDA and reiterated the application before the bodies was for Commercial zoning, not Industrial or manufacturing. After discussion about hours of operation and permitted uses in the Commercial District, Commissioner Lea Meadows moved to recommend approval of the rezoning to Commercial; the motion carried with recorded votes showing three yeas, one abstention and three absences as noted in the minutes.