Annex Ordinance Causes Controversy

The controversy over a recent annex ordinance started Tuesday during a Blue Ridge City Council Workshop. During the first reading of the ordinance, council member Rhonda Thomas said she had an issue with the ordinance. Requested by Cadence Bank, the ordinance proposes the annexation of approximately 2.29 acres off Davis Boulevard and Highway 515 with a zoning classification of C2 (commercial). Thomas’ issue with the ordinance, however, was not with the annexation of the property, but with the requested zoning classification.

“It’s my understanding My Mountain Top subdivision is right below that and the way its currently scheduled zoning…means that anything could go in there,”

she explained, adding,

“Rumor has it that there are some very noisy commercial type of activities possible planned for that which would be extremely noisy.”

Thomas also pointed out that the initial recommendation made to the planning commission was that the property be zoned as Restrictive, a classification that prevents certain types of commercial businesses from using the land. She reminded council that half a millions dollar condos were near-by and that certain types of entertainment business could cause their property values to go down.

“I think it something we need to consider before we approve this,”

Thomas. Mayor Donna Whitener, though, said that the city has a noise ordinance in already place, suggesting that any noise pollution would be addressed under this ordinance.

During the regular meeting, on Tuesday evening, Thomas reiterated her position, revealing that the type if business rumored to use this property was a go-cart race track. Cadence Bank President Darrin Sparks, Cadence Bank Employee Chastity Miller and Attorney Angela De Lorme representing Cadence Bank also attended the meeting. Showing the mayor and council a map of the property, De Lorme said,

“We’re just asking (the property) to be continued in and annexed the same as the original property (which) was zoned as C2 (commercial).”

She added that she knew nothing about a race track or go-carts, that those businesses have never been part of the plan. De Lorme emphasized that the C2 classification request is simply an effort to make the property zoned consistently with the adjoining property, which is zoned C2.

“We’d love to build a building there,”

President of the bank Darrin Sparks said,

“(but) we no immediate plans; (however) it’s always been a long-range plan.”

In the end, council tabled approval of the ordinance until they can further research the matter.