Publix on County Line/Shopping Center & Other Commercial Development (Huntsville: neighborhoods, school district)

[friday13]

Originally Posted by E Limestone Dude

Dude, ...

Dude-ess..

[ionlife]

I am doing something about E Limestone Dude--I've got plenty of irons going right now. This is just one place I've put one in.. And this is a typical GOB reaction to newbie dissatisfaction. GMAB? Move to the woods? Why? They'll probably put a huge BIG LOTS there. Or a car dealership.

[ionlife]

Man Buys Case of Beer, Holds off Robber | Breaking News from The Huntsville Times - al.com

Just wondering

[autobahn]

Public hearing for the Gillespie/Balch commercial development will be Feb 8, 2010 at City Council.
Madison, AL - Official Website
http://www.madisonal.gov/DocumentView.aspx?DID=992

[autobahn]

Map of gas station...

[djmaxwell]

Looks like it puts most of the impact along Gillespie. Perhaps the'll put the underground tanks on the Balch side. That way the residents in the shacks across the street only have to worry about round water contamination.

[ionlife]

Well that will certainly be addressed. I believe there are a lot of well-educated people in our subdivision with degrees in chemical engineering, law, physics and more who can address the ecological impact of this proposed gas station.

The first meeting showed the pain and frustration of a few homeowners who are seriously impacted already by the half truths and lies they believed. A few others, like myself, were well aware of some of the changes and bought with our eyes open regarding the "preserve" that wasn't a preserve. But based on our research, we bought what we thought was future light residential in the area. I can tell you there are a lot of steamed BRAC/MDA transfers here and in other subdivisions who are squawking up a storm. The Powers that Be and the future relocating families are listening.

At the end of the day, the schools will sell this area. They would sell me again. I just hope the city council members hear our frustration. And that they do something to demonstrate a willingness to gain our good faith. If I could see a master plan that benefitted the entire city with this change as well as our own community, that would do a lot to quell my concerns.

[Wandering_Missourian]

I find it rather humorous that people are surprised that AG zoned land is getting zoned B2 within the city of Madison. Might as well accept it..... it's going to happen and there's not much you can do about it. You bought into the cycle of suburban development..... so you reap what you sow. Madison wants a new high school, and they need to churn revenue for taxes from as many sources as they can find. I wouldn't worry too much about the ecological impact of any commercial development that goes in...... be it a gas station selling beer to crazed drunk drivers at midnight.... or another "educational" adult store (that would be the BEST), it won't do a fraction of the impact the residents surrounding it did whenever they bought into the new subdivisions in the area in the past few years. If you think a gas station is bad, just wait until the laundromat, large liquor store, and payday loan center en espanol get built in the new B2 zone! I only say this because a lot of those huge homes will probably fall into foreclosure or be turned into multi-family housing for immigrants (or the previous middle class) within the next decade or two, and thus the clientele for those "nasty" businesses will be living close by... maybe even RIGHT NEXT DOOR. They probably won't speak English, and listen to weird and strange music! CHANGE IS COMING! Be scared... change is bad (unless you're the one that chose to bulldoze your sacred 1/2 acre over for your home, then it's OK). Booga booga!

[HB2HSV]

Originally Posted by Wandering_Missourian

I find it rather humorous that people are surprised that AG zoned land is getting zoned B2 within the city of Madison. Might as well accept it..... it's going to happen and there's not much you can do about it. You bought into the cycle of suburban development..... so you reap what you sow. Madison wants a new high school, and they need to churn revenue for taxes from as many sources as they can find. I wouldn't worry too much about the ecological impact of any commercial development that goes in...... be it a gas station selling beer to crazed drunk drivers at midnight.... or another "educational" adult store (that would be the BEST), it won't do a fraction of the impact the residents surrounding it did whenever they bought into the new subdivisions in the area in the past few years. If you think a gas station is bad, just wait until the laundromat, large liquor store, and payday loan center en espanol get built in the new B2 zone! I only say this because a lot of those huge homes will probably fall into foreclosure or be turned into multi-family housing for immigrants (or the previous middle class) within the next decade or two, and thus the clientele for those "nasty" businesses will be living close by... maybe even RIGHT NEXT DOOR. They probably won't speak English, and listen to weird and strange music! CHANGE IS COMING! Be scared... change is bad (unless you're the one that chose to bulldoze your sacred 1/2 acre over for your home, then it's OK). Booga booga!

Oh don't be so dramatic By the time this come about, the property would've appreciated 400% ~ 500%. The current residents would've raised this generation of children, moved on with a fat check to buy the next agriculture land-converted subdivision houses and continue the suburban sprawl from here to Nashville.

The only reason illegal immigrants come here is because of jobs. Since Huntsville/Madison do not have chicken slaughter houses, then it must be all the rich people here need hispanic maids & farmland hire-helps. Restaurants need illegal labors to keep cost down so they can still charge you $6.99 for all-u-can-eat buffet. Good 'ol boy who don't want to mow their yards no more, so they hire illegals to do because GOB has mo money now and can pay dirt-cheap labor to do so while complaining about the influx of illegals into their cities.

A little corner gas station/ convenient store ain't gonna destroy a nighborhood. If fact, if designed properly it will help the neighborhood more "convenient". I find the "dramma" on both side of this issue is totally over-blown. We have bigger issues in this city. Let's move on and stop the whinnings.

[ionlife]

I find the lack of regard for the real issues of having a gas station/convenience store located next to an elementary school rather surreal. Frankly, I don't know of a single illegal working for me in my home. We are by no means rich. The last time I checked, the only maids and cooks in this house were the residents.

This is real and an issue is a problem for those facing it. And the property was NOT originally zoned, according to the MASTER MAP, for future commercial use. People who did their homework read a map that said the agricultural area would be rezoned in the future as LIGHT RESIDENTIAL. Now those people who did their homework are being told that map was "old" and therefore out of date.

I find the idea of spending 4.99 for a loaf of bread ridiculous and not at all a valid reason for putting a convenience store on that corner. There is grocery store less than half a mile away. In addition, another grocery store offers gas as well and it is at most 1.5 miles away.

As for worrying about change, that isn't an issue. Change will happen. But I know that it must be well thought out change. I have yet to see a Master Plan from our city government regarding the city's own vision. The Mayor wants "destination shopping and recreation" places. I hardly think that he had a gas station/convenience store in mind when he wrote that statement.