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Zoning OKs Waterford project By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer  | Photo by Sue Watson
Construction underway
Conway Moore (left) and Scott Robinson are pictured in front of stalls constructed for horses. |
The
Marshall County Zoning Commission unanimously approved a permit in June
for an entertainment park on Highway 7 South below Wall Doxey State
Park. Developer Scott Robinson faced a number of
community members who objected to the park in order to ultimately win
the commission’s nod of approval. The commission approved the construction of a restaurant, rodeo arena and playground for children on the 120-acre site. Robinson
said the park entrance will be built on Highway 7 South and his venue
is spotted in the middle of woodlands which he says will act as a
buffer for noise. The planning commission sent
out 14 letters. Four approvals, two objections and one letter with
questions were returned. Robinson also presented a petition with 357
names in favor of the entertainment park. He said
he dreams big but knows in fact that he will start out small. He would
like the park to grow to include a pavilion for entertainment, a
campground for RVs and look something like recreational parks in
Philadelphia, Neshoba County, or a frontier-style park like in Cheyenne
with a rodeo. “I would start small and hope to draw a crowd,” he said. The
crowd was what some vocal members of the Waterford community objected
to. They said they do not want the traffic, the noise, the lights and
the crowds. Ray Garrett, attorney for Margaret
Herndon, a resident of Wilson Golden Road located opposite the proposed
site, listed a number of objections which were also raised by others.
He said Robinson’s application did not indicate that such a large venue
was under consideration and said the application did not include a
Philadelphia-style venue. Robinson said he
brought the pictures of Philadelphia theme parks for an illustration -
saying he does not know exactly how the park will develop. Garrett
asked the board to look at what would actually be done, the trash to be
generated, the lighting, the traffic problems, which he said the county
and the area are not set up to handle. He questioned the use of alcohol
and the possibility of a horse-racing track. Conway
Moore, who recused herself since she has an investment in the project,
said special exception allows a rodeo in areas zoned agricultural. But
Garrett argued that the letter sent out to adjacent landowners said
Robinson was asking for a variance. Commissioner
Bill Kinkade suggested Robinson should specify his intentions even
though he had expressed a broad vision for potential use. Herndon
spoke for herself, saying sound travels in the bottomland on Wilson
Golden Road - that people can stand and talk in the summertime and can
be heard yards away. “A rodeo is one thing, a public address system is another,” she said.  | Photo by Sue Watson
Speaking out
Evelyn Elliott (standing, left) opposes the entertainment park during the zoning board meeting. |
Evelyn
Elliott expressed opposition due to possible noise that would be
generated as well as the potential effect on children in the
neighborhood. “I am a preacher and have to stay
up (preparing for services) and I will hear this. Find some other
place,” Elliott said. “A recreational park is not a family event. It is
more for people carousing and drinking.” Several
individuals expressed concern that once the park opens the owners can
put in anything they want. They wanted to know how broad the land use
permit would be. John Paul Carpenter, who was in
favor of the park, said operators have to know when to kick out an
unruly customer and how to manage noise. “You
gotta know when to close, when to manage,” he said. “These people in
life...the car track (Holly Springs Motor Park) jars my house. Should
we kick them out? I count the garbage cans. If I see seven garbage cans
full, I know they bought that in Holly Springs.” Those
in opposition to the park continued to press for information on how the
park would be operated in the future and its affects on the local
community. Planning Commission attorney Gene Brown said the special exception can be made as narrow or broad as the commission wants it. “It
does not have to be wide open to encompass all these prospective uses,”
he said. “It’s not carte blanche. Down the road he would have to come
back and make another request.” Others speaking
in favor of the development included Louis Bailey and First State Bank
president Sam McClatchy, who both said local investors are needed to
build businesses and provide much-needed jobs. Lake Johnson said the development was “an accident waiting to happen.” Attorney
Brown then pointed out that the land in question is zoned agricultural,
and parks, playgrounds, golf courses, country clubs, etc. are already
permitted without asking for a special exception. The
matter was resolved when commissioner Flick Ash said enough comment had
been heard both pro and con. He motioned to permit Robinson an
exception limited to the operation of a restaurant, a rodeo and
playground for children. The motioned passed unanimously. In other matters, the zoning board: •
approved a request for a special exception from Laverne Crutcher, who
wanted to convert a single-wide on her property to a double-wide. The
board approved her request and gave her six months to complete the
renovation. The area is zoned for double-wides. •
denied a request from Tosha Mason-Poplar to operate a childcare center
at a house she and her family intend to build. Zoning sent out 59
letters with two approvals and 26 objections returned. Those objecting
said the business was in violation of the subdivision covenants that
the area be used only for residences. The Poplars
argued that several individuals in the subdivision operate businesses
out of their homes, but one homeowner said only home offices are in
operation and that the businesses were located elsewhere. Some
homeowners said they bought a lot in the subdivision because the
covenants said no businesses would be operated out of the subdivision. • approved the relocation of a church. •
denied permission for Victoria Church to put a cemetery in the back of
the church lot. The lot is located in a subdivision. Commissioners said
the lot was too small to serve as a cemetery which has to be kept up
forever even if a church closes its doors. •
approved the rezoning of 10 acres from R-E to C-2. The property is
adjacent to the Bill Adair property north of Highway 72 which is also
zoned commercial. Davie Seldon and others asked for the rezoning.
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