Developers challenge Raye Drive

By By Tracy L. Brady
Record Reporter
A road by any other name would not seem just as sweet for Nathan and Abbey Smith.
After living in and working at their 101 Raye Drive residence for more than eight years, the Smiths have become accustomed to being the lone residents of the 25-year-old road that extends south off of Eastview.
Councilman Larry Vannoy presented the council with a proposed ordinance at the July 8 meeting to change the name of Raye Drive to Bellehaven Drive, per the request of Belle Grove Development.
Dane Richardson of Belle Grove Development approached the council after the ordinance was presented for first reading and asked that the name Bellehaven Drive be changed to Belle Ridge in the ordinance. He said the Madison Fire Department had rejected the original name.
Belle Grove Development plans to build 36 homes on and around Raye Drive. Seven lots have already been sold in the new subdivision, four of which belong to developers of Belle Grove Development. Richardson said all seven landowners support the renaming of the street.
"It's common practice," Richardson said to the council when asked why the name change was being presented.
"We do not support the name change," Nathan Smith with wife Abbey by his side told the council. "We have owned the property for 10 years and lived there for more than eight years. My wife has a business in our home. We do not think it is necessary."
Richardson assured the council the Smiths would be reimbursed for any inconvenience the address change might cause their home or business.
The council will vote on the issue at its July 22 meeting.
In other business, the council:
* Presented a plaque to Chris Gareri of the Recreation Department from the American Red Cross for lifeguard training and water safety programs.
* Presented a certificate of recognition to Madison resident and Young Engineer of the Year award recipient John Allen.
* Accepted a $500 donation to the Recreation Department from the Scottish Festival Committee.
* Accepted a $1,000 donation to the Madison Fire Department from Sen. Tom Butler for the purchase of a microphone system for air masks.
* Accepted a $583.26 donation from Kohl's Department Store and a $500 donation from Catherine Quarles to be used by the Madison Senior Center.
* Approved a $576,925 bid from Lee Builders for the construction of Fire Station No. 3.
* Sent a proposal for the purchase of a $199,610 citywide telephone system from BellSouth to the Finance Committee for review.
* Approved an agreement between the city and Garrett Tennis Academy for tennis lessons at the new Dublin Park tennis courts.
* Approved an agreement between the city and the Madison City Schools Board of Education for Rainbow Mountain cell tower space for an annual fee of $10.
* Announced an ordinance will not be considered for approval preventing homeowner's from parking vehicles in their yards. Councilman Bob Wagner said the issue was "dead on arrival" to the council from the Planning and Zoning Commission.