A special use variance to convert the old feed mill location to a recycling center was unanimously voted down by the Mountain Home Planning Commission Monday afternoon.
The meeting which lasted one hour saw a full gallery of around 35 people, mostly residents of the Southern Meadows neighborhood adjacent to the site, who shared varying degrees of concern for the project.
Clancy McClintock and Robert Cox who own Crooked Creek Metal LLC shared with the commission their proposal for the site to establish a scrap recycling center dealing with all forms of metal from soda cans to automobiles. The two owners of the company explained that as part of the agreement with Butterball for them to take down and remove the old feed mill at 501 West Wade Ave they received the property for payment. The remaining infrastructure of buildings, scales and higher electricity connections made it ideal for a scrap style business. The owners admitted the property was perfect but they understood that being in town was a hard sell to the community. Their facility in Harrison serves around 150 customers a day and they spoke on the cleanliness and efficiency of their operation but that it would create high traffic volume in the area.
Current state of old feed mill property on Wade St.
Commissioner Jim Brown expressed to Cox and McClintock that he had no doubt in their integrity but instead had doubts if this was a good choice for the community as a whole.
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Commissioner Sam Rhoades asked Cox where the ideal location for the facility would be.
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During the time for public comment a few in the audience came forward and expressed common concerns. One gentleman stated that he was grateful that Crooked Creek LLC had removed the old feed mill but after all that work to remove it he did not want to see more industrial activity in the area. Many pointed to the potential of property values being hurt negatively with concerns that the site would be a deterrent to young families moving into Southern Meadows. One woman stated, “We have your word that you will manage the site well but we don’t have the word of who may come after you.”
The commission voted unanimously to not grant the special use variance to Crooked Creek LLC for the use of the property as a recycling and scrap center.
In other business attorney Ted Sanders presented for petitioners Scott D. Burleson and Robin D. Banks for a special use variance allowing residential R-3 zoning in commercial C-1 zoning at 926 South College St. The commission approved the variance unanomously.
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