Mooresville mayor, residents object to proposed rezoning
MOORESVILLE – Mooresville’s mayor and residents are worried a possible Decatur rezoning would adversely affect their historic town three-quarters of a mile away.
Aaron and Barbara Guthrie have asked the Decatur Planning Commission to rezone from agriculture to light manufacturing 30.48 acres in the southeast corner of I-565 and I-65. The Guthries would like to locate a truck transfer business on the property that’s west of Belle Tower and Limestone roads.
Mooresville Mayor Margaret-Anne Crumlish said she doesn’t want a light manufacturing zone near her town that’s on the National Register of Historic Places. Mooresville, incorporated in 1818, is the oldest incorporated town in the state.
Trucks leaving the property “would certainly have to go through our town,” Crumlish said. “It would interfere with the plans for the Singing River Trail, which is supposed to go right through there. I also just learned that the (Wheeler National Wildlife) Refuge has plans for canoe and kayak trails. It’s just not a good fit.”
After Crumlish and residents objected to the Decatur rezoning and at the property owners’ request, the Planning Commission tabled the rezoning request earlier this week. The Commission did approve a subdivision of the property into two parcels.
City Planner Karen Smith said the owners want a chance to talk to the mayor and her residents about their concerns.
“Hopefully, they can work out something that’s better for everyone,” Planning Commission Chairman Kent Lawrence said.
Smith said there currently isn’t an alternate zoning that would allow the Guthries to open a truck transfer business at that location in Decatur’s annexed area of Limestone County.
City code says a light manufacturing zone allows … “light industrial operations that are not obnoxious, offensive or detrimental to the neighborhood property …”
“One of the things we’re trying to do with the new rezoning plan is to make things more flexible in a way that mitigates the impact of a project,” Smith said.
Blake McAnally’s company, Pugh Wright McAnally Engineering Services, is creating the plans for the Guthrie project. He pointed out that the business is at least 1 mile from the closest residence and 0.75 of a mile from the town.
McAnally said the Guthries plan to build a small building with an office.
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