Residents urge rejection of trucking site; Greene County Commission denies Roaring Fork rezoning

Greene County commissioners on May 18 rejected a request to rezone two adjoining parcels at 290 Roaring Fork Road from A‑1 (General Agriculture) to B‑2 (General Business), turning back a bid by a prospective buyer who had the property under contract. The vote was 8 in favor, 12 opposed, with one commissioner absent. The vote followed a public hearing where neighbors described potential long‑term impacts on the rural reach off Roaring Fork Road.

Opponents at the microphone said the change would shift a quiet farming and low‑density residential area toward an industrial‑style truck operation. "If this change takes place there would be more traffic on the property's long one‑lane gravel driveway," Charlie Sullivan told commissioners, citing concerns about heavy truck noise and dust and noting that he shares about 1,500 feet of property line with the 20‑acre site. Janice Paysinger said she was speaking "against the consideration of the property to be rezoned" because the proposed business would be in her backyard.

Prospective buyer Ben McInturff, appearing with realtor Mike McNeese, said the plan was for a small family trucking and repair business, "less than 10 trucks," serving local hauling needs and repair. McInturff told the commission his business has outgrown its current location and said he planned to operate similarly at the new site. Realtor McNeese presented photos and a property packet showing a cleared site, a large gravel parking area and a commercial‑scale building the applicant said suited a truck repair use.

Several commissioners said they were persuaded by neighbors' noise, parking, runoff and setback concerns and by arguments that rezoning a single parcel for a business use in the middle of agricultural land could amount to "spot zoning." Opponents also said setbacks near existing residential lots appeared to be inadequate and that long‑term resale could result in uses beyond the buyer's stated plans. Supporters pointed to the site's infrastructure and access as advantages if the use remains small and family operated.

The Greene County Regional Planning Commission had recommended approval at its May 12 meeting; the full county commission instead voted to deny the rezoning after hearing testimony from both sides. The decision leaves the parcel zoned A‑1. The public hearing and the disposition of the application are recorded in the meeting minutes.

What happens next: The buyer may continue to pursue options that do not require rezoning, or seek to buy a commercially zoned property elsewhere. Neighbors who opposed the change said they intend to track any future permits for truck parking, repairs or related uses near their homes.

Provenance: Topic began at SEG 022 (public comments) and the final vote and discussion are recorded at SEG 131. Representative quotes and petitioner statements appear in SEG 023 and SEG 027.