A rezoning request has some residents concerned for what it means for their community near Gladeville.
First Industrial Realty Trust requested to rezone and amend the Land Use Plan for 1113 Couchville Pike and 3461 Underwood Road to change them from Low-Density/Low-Intensity Residential to Med-High Density/Med-High Intensity Commercial.
The initial request was presented to the Wilson County Planning Commission on Friday, May 16, and was forwarded to the County Commission with “no recommendation.â€
The reason listed by First Industrial Realty Trust for requesting the rezoning is for the construction of a warehouse distribution facility. This is part of the First Park 840 development proposal. The site is located approximately one mile from Interstate-840.
The July 21 County Commission agenda lists a public hearing for zoning purposes. The meeting will be held at the Wilson County Courthouse, located at 228 E. Main St. in Lebanon.
Residents of Gladeville started an online movement in opposition to the rezoning. A website, , was started in a similar manner to one created opposing the Tuckers Crossroads development late last year.
According to the website, supporters of the rezoning proposal made claims the project will solve flooding in the south Gladeville area, suggesting that private investment of retention ponds and drainage infrastructure will resolve flooding issues.
Kelly Davis, a resident of Gladeville, posted to the Hip Mt. Juliet Facebook group to promote the Protect Gladeville movement and encouraged residents to attend Monday’s commission meeting.
“I received [a] letter in the mail about the application to rezone 10 properties directly next to my home for the proposed First Park 840 development, which would bring three massive warehouses and hundreds of trucks into our quiet Gladeville community,†Davis said. “Both the Wilson County planner and the county engineer raised serious concerns that the development over the sinkholes present could worsen flooding in the area. Despite the developer’s PR messaging that this project would ‘fix’ flooding, county officials have expressed serious concern about this development making flooding worse for surrounding properties. Most supporters of the plan are the property owners who have agreed to sell out to the developer and would leave the area.â€
Davis was paraphrasing Wilson County Planning Director Christopher Lawless.
The Protect Gladeville website claims the property owners are requesting the rezoning to increase the potential sale value of the land, “despite the damage it would cause to the rural character for this area.â€
Another resident replied to the tread on Hip Mt. Juliet.
“So last year, those of us in Lebanon that were against the industrial park really pushed the commissioners to vote against it. There was a lady I spoke with about it. She works at the feed mill in Lebanon, she had stated that there are 24 or 27 (if I’m remembering correctly) VACANT warehouses in Wilson county. Why on earth do they need to build more?â€
The ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½â€™s attempts to contact First Industrial Realty Trust were unsuccessful as of press time Friday.
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