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Mount Pleasant City Commission halts ordinance to rezone South Cross Bridges Road




DavisMount Pleasant Tennessee

DavisMount Pleasant Tennessee

Following backlash from city leaders and concerned citizens, the Mount Pleasant City Commission has temporarily halted plans to rezone 114 acres on South Cross Bridges Road.

The vote, which was passed 5-0 last Tuesday, was intended to allow a look at more zoning options which would start back at the planning commission. If passed, the property would become R-1 Low Density Residential.

Citizens voiced their concerns over the proposed zoning, including the large number of homes being built in a short amount of time, potentially affecting the property value.

“If you put that many homes on that small of a track, it’s going to bring down the property value to those homes up at the front,” one resident said.

Jake Wolaver, attorney for the Maury County Board of Education, shared his frustration over the plan of services. Wolaver said the plan lacks police presence and fire services, while also questioning adequate water supply. Wolaver stated his plans to file a lawsuit if the ordinance passed.

This property map shows the area being proposed for rezoning by the City of Mount Pleasant.PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF MOUNT PLEASANT

This property map shows the area being proposed for rezoning by the City of Mount Pleasant.PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF MOUNT PLEASANT

“You are cramming something down the throats of the citizens of South Cross Bridges Road and that’s not going to fly,” he said.

Vice Mayor Jacqueline Granberry addressed Wolaver, while also challenging criticism aimed at the planning commission.

“Everything that was said today is really not true,” she said. “We provide water out there now. If there’s a fire we’re going. If there’s an emergency call our police are going no matter what time it is. I don’t appreciate it because we do work, and we do work hard.”

Commissioner Mike Davis said planning and City Commission members should be listening to the public.

“I think we’re doing the citizens of Mount Pleasant wrong, and I think we’re doing the citizens across bridges wrong,” he said. “We can’t win this lawsuit, and the citizens of Mount Pleasant have to pay for it.”

City Attorney Kori Bledsoe Jones assured the public that state law has been followed.

“I feel like we have done everything that has been allowed under the law to do this,” Mayor Bill White said. “This commission may not always agree with what the planning commissions say, but that’s the reason we have both.”

The board ultimately voted to send the ordinance to rezone the property, which has already been annexed, back to the planning commission to consider creating another zone. Mount Pleasant’s planning commission is scheduled to meet next on Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 6 p.m.

“When something looks good on paper, it might not look good when you’re dealing with the people,” Commissioner Eric Harvey said. “I feel like for the future of Mount Pleasant we have to be smart about this.”

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