A purposed shopping complex in Flintstone is drawing mixed reaction from area residents.
The center, which would be at the corner of Ga. 341 and Ga.193, across the street from Ronnie Holden State Farm Insurance, has many residents concerned with safety issues.
A meeting was held with Walker County Commissioner Bebe Heiskell on March 27 to discuss the matter. The property, which is zoned as residential, must be rezoned to commercial for the shopping center to be constructed.
Dave Walker, Flintstone resident, said during the meeting, “There are some serious safety issues that have been developing in the community for years. Traffic is extremely heavy because of the major subdivisions that have been built. A traffic light is needed at the intersection. It is almost impossible for my wife to get into traffic at the State Farm office now.”
The purposed shopping complex will sit on a five-acre lot along a curve on Ga. 341.
Other residents from the area voiced simi
Clearing of the development site in Flintstone is almost completed. (Messenger photo/Larry Brooks)lar concerns at the meeting.
Chris Godfrey said that he lives directly across from the proposed second entrance to the complex in the Eagle Landing subdivision. Godfrey said he was concerned with traffic coming in and out of the complex because of the bad curve where the complex will be located.
“I have small children who play in my yard,” said Godfrey at the meeting. “I worry about their safety.”
Aileen Musco also lives at Eagle Landing and agreed that traffic will become a greater problem for those entering and leaving the subdivision. She also voiced concerns of the quality of life decreasing in her neighborhood due to the increased traffic.
“I can’t see that it is going to serve the neighborhood. I can drive a mile and a half and get anything I need,” Musco said.
Residents at the commissioner’s meeting said they were afraid that the complex would also cause a depreciation of their property values.
Robert Swartz owner of Southern Retail Development and who was not present at the public meeting before the commissioner, purchased the property in January. Mike Price, the engineer of the project, represented the owner’s interests.
In a written statement, Swartz explained his intention of developing the area.
“We are currently going through the rezoning process. Once that is accomplished we plan to start the development and hope to finish it by spring 2009. We are currently looking for tenants and trying to attract business to this location. Our hope is to have a grocery chain like Save-A-Lot come to this location, as well as doctors offices, restaurants, and other retailers.”
There are residents who support the idea of attracting more businesses to the area and believe that such a project could help boost the area’s economy.
Some support proposed center
As of late last week, a new petition of support for the complex was circulating that had many residents welcoming the new development. The petition had 27 names listed showing support.
John Raines, a resident of the area and circulator of the petition, said, “There is a lot of support for this project. The valley needs something. It will help our economy.”
Commissioner Heiskell said she would decide on rezoning of the property on May 8. She said she hoped that all the parties, including the developer, would be present at that meeting so that everyone understood the intentions of everyone involved.
Heiskell said, “I think the community is more interested in the purposed businesses at the location than they are with the traffic concerns.”
The commissioner said that she would go ahead and makes requests of the Department of Transportation to install new traffic lights at the area to help with traffic concerns.
The May 8 meeting will be held at the commissioner’s office in LaFayette to resolve the issue.
The center, which would be at the corner of Ga. 341 and Ga.193, across the street from Ronnie Holden State Farm Insurance, has many residents concerned with safety issues.
A meeting was held with Walker County Commissioner Bebe Heiskell on March 27 to discuss the matter. The property, which is zoned as residential, must be rezoned to commercial for the shopping center to be constructed.
Dave Walker, Flintstone resident, said during the meeting, “There are some serious safety issues that have been developing in the community for years. Traffic is extremely heavy because of the major subdivisions that have been built. A traffic light is needed at the intersection. It is almost impossible for my wife to get into traffic at the State Farm office now.”
The purposed shopping complex will sit on a five-acre lot along a curve on Ga. 341.
Other residents from the area voiced simi
Clearing of the development site in Flintstone is almost completed. (Messenger photo/Larry Brooks)lar concerns at the meeting.
Chris Godfrey said that he lives directly across from the proposed second entrance to the complex in the Eagle Landing subdivision. Godfrey said he was concerned with traffic coming in and out of the complex because of the bad curve where the complex will be located.
“I have small children who play in my yard,” said Godfrey at the meeting. “I worry about their safety.”
Aileen Musco also lives at Eagle Landing and agreed that traffic will become a greater problem for those entering and leaving the subdivision. She also voiced concerns of the quality of life decreasing in her neighborhood due to the increased traffic.
“I can’t see that it is going to serve the neighborhood. I can drive a mile and a half and get anything I need,” Musco said.
Residents at the commissioner’s meeting said they were afraid that the complex would also cause a depreciation of their property values.
Robert Swartz owner of Southern Retail Development and who was not present at the public meeting before the commissioner, purchased the property in January. Mike Price, the engineer of the project, represented the owner’s interests.
In a written statement, Swartz explained his intention of developing the area.
“We are currently going through the rezoning process. Once that is accomplished we plan to start the development and hope to finish it by spring 2009. We are currently looking for tenants and trying to attract business to this location. Our hope is to have a grocery chain like Save-A-Lot come to this location, as well as doctors offices, restaurants, and other retailers.”
There are residents who support the idea of attracting more businesses to the area and believe that such a project could help boost the area’s economy.
Some support proposed center
As of late last week, a new petition of support for the complex was circulating that had many residents welcoming the new development. The petition had 27 names listed showing support.
John Raines, a resident of the area and circulator of the petition, said, “There is a lot of support for this project. The valley needs something. It will help our economy.”
Commissioner Heiskell said she would decide on rezoning of the property on May 8. She said she hoped that all the parties, including the developer, would be present at that meeting so that everyone understood the intentions of everyone involved.
Heiskell said, “I think the community is more interested in the purposed businesses at the location than they are with the traffic concerns.”
The commissioner said that she would go ahead and makes requests of the Department of Transportation to install new traffic lights at the area to help with traffic concerns.
The May 8 meeting will be held at the commissioner’s office in LaFayette to resolve the issue.
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