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Mercer zoning board finally approves CVS site

January 18, 2006|ANN R. HARNEY

HARRODSBURG - It was short, but probably not sweet to the people in attendance when the local zoning board voted unanimously to allow a zone change for property at 214 Mooreland Ave.

A special-called meeting was held to let board members decide on the zone-change request made to the Greater Harrodsburg/Mercer County Planning and Zoning Commission by property owner Phillip Gilbert.

The zone change from high-density residential to general business was fought by neighbors because, if permitted, it is likely that a house at that address will be torn down to make room for a new CVS Pharmacy on adjacent property facing U.S. 127 South. The last tenant of the strip mall was a Chinese restaurant.

The request has had a tortuous history. When the issue first came to the zoning panel in November, the votes for and against approval evenly were split with three votes on one side and three votes on the other. The votes came after a public hearing in which both sides expressed their views. The board decided to send the question to the Harrodsburg City Commission without a recommendation.

The City Commission took little time sending it back to the zoning board. City Commissioner Joe Hood suggested through a motion to send it back to the zoning board for reconsideration and a recommendation and it was approved.

A second public hearing was held Jan. 3 by the zoning board, and so much new information was offered in testimony that Chairman Bob Upchurch suggested the zoning commission wait two weeks before making a decision. Tuesday evening, the board members reassembled to make their final decision. That was the only issue on the agenda.

Planning and zoning Commissioner Boone Logan made the motion to accept the staff recommendation of approving the zone change and his motion was quickly seconded by Commissioner Rosetta Johnson. All of the commissioners voted for the change in a roll-call vote.

The recommendation for approval of the zone change will be sent back to the City Commission, but this may not be the last time the zoning panel will have to face this issue. Attorney John Tarter accompanied his mother-in-law, Melvina Cheatham, whom he has represented throughout the discussion of the issue.

Her property backs up to the property on South College Street and she has opposed the change because of the added traffic, large delivery trucks and garbage disposals next to her backyard. After Tuesday's meetings, Tarter said he does not know if a lawsuit will be filed against the zoning board. He said he would have to find out from the property owners near the new construction if that is what they want to do.

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