Jim Fair
The Greer Baptist Association property at 309 West Poinsett Street was rezoned OD (office district), ending a contested issue at City Council Tuesday night.
Jim Fair
Keith Kelly spoke in favor of rezoning the Greer Baptist Association property to OD (office district).
Jim Fair
Perry Williams, who owns property across the street from the Greer Baptist Association, reads City Council passages outlining its reponsibility to vote against rezoning the property to OD (office district).
The decision followed impassioned arguments from 10 residents, split evenly, during a 38-minute public forum. Wayne Griffin (District 2) cast the no vote.
Greer Baptist Association (GBA) proponents for the rezoning argued the association resided at its address since 1961 operating as a business in a residential setting. Nearby home owners protested rezoning would diminish the value of their investment in restoring their homes and open up the corridor for more commercial development in their neighborhoods. Some of those same homeowners’ properties are zoned C-2.
Chuck Langston of Langston Black Realty represents GBA in its effort to market the property. “It was a tough call but the right call,” Langston said.
“I am very grateful for their decision. To me it wasn’t a surprise. It was common sense,” said Keith Kelly, founding pastor of His Vineyard Church.
Perry Williams, who lectured Council on its legal responsibility, lives across the street from the GBA. “It’s not common sense, it’s the law,” Williams told Council. Williams and his wife, Erin, spoke separately against rezoning to OD.
“Perry quoted the very section we used to decide this issue,” Mayor Rick Danner said. “He used the word council ‘may’ decide,” Danner said.
Perry Williams at first refused to comment, exiting after Council’s decision. “I don’t know what to say,” Williams said.
When asked if there was anything further he could do to challenge rezoning he said Circuit Court was the only avenue. “You usually sue for money. I’m not in this for the money. I’m in it for quality of life,” Williams said.
Erin Williams offered a set of photos she told Council was taken through the windows at GSA showing, what she described, as vacant rooms and hallways. “We invested a great deal of money in our home. If I had seen what I had tonight, I think I would have reconsidered,” she said.
Randy Bradley, Missions Director of Three Rivers Baptist, of which GSA is a member of the 86-church organization, questioned the accuracy of Erin Williams’ description and photos. Bradley said GSA agreed to sell the property for $185,000 and Langston Black had a $5,000 check in hand. The deal soured when the property did not receive a commercial (C-2) zoning designation.
“On July 1 we moved all our main equipment to another office. We now use that building as an outreach for the community,” Bradley said.
Danner said the occupancy of the building was a moot point. “We determine the most relevant way to determine a building vacated or abandoned is if the utilities are turned off. The phones forward phone calls to their office on (Highway) 290. CPW still services that building.” Opponents argued the building had been vacated 90 days.
The only comments by Council were from Kimberly Bookert (District 3), Wryley Bettis (District 5) and Judy Albert (District 6) commending city staff in its preparation. Danner said the preceding week, between the first and tonight’s second reading, “was spent with members of council taking the opportunity to study the issue.”
Danner said the issue, involving community leaders on both sides, was settled on the merits of the law, not the emotions.
The 10 speakers, in order, in the public hearing on zoning classification of 309 W. Poinsett Street property:
Chuck Langston
Maria Lynn
Keith Kelly
Delores Whittington
Mark Cannon
Erin Williams
Tom Capps
Jim Brown
Randy Bradley
Perry Williams