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“I hear” that tonight is the night we should learn the fate of Coach Jim Nowell’s hearing…..I have no idea if that will really happen, but MageeNews.com will be there to live stream the event.
Baring any major problems, maybe…just maybe…the live stream will go off without a hitch (think positive, Sue). I wonder what else is on the agenda for Thursday night? Will we learn anything about the building?
Weird stuff: Thursday morning in front of Hibbett’s Sports, altercations erupted as people waited in line for the store to open…some special kind of tennis shoe….now is that crazy!
Our highway 49 red light has been “shut down” several times during the past week. I know we had the escort of the body of the slain policeman (Mr. Deen)…then the Trail of Honors group heading to Jackson…but from what I have been able to learn…the other closing are the moving of tanks from Camp Shelby to Jackson. We had at least two convoys Wednesday and the convoys are already beginning Thursday. Anyone who attempts to cross 49 knows to be careful…but this week…be even more aware
Tuesday night’s Zoning meeting was quite a surprise to the majority of the members. Usually, members receive a packet containing information about the proposed zoning change several days before a scheduled meeting. If members do not receive a packet…then usually there is no meeting. Well, late Tuesday afternoon the packets were taken to board members residences. Several were out of town…some were at work…you get the picture…luckily, Joy was in the office and the packet for me was delivered to her…she contacted me in Madison (baby sitting) and I arrived in Magee at 5:30. After several phone calls, we had a quorum. The matter to be discussed concerned extending the zoning in the area from Entergy to the highway from a C2 to a C3 (which allows for additional type businesses to be added to that area as well as the sale of beer by glass). Dusty Drennan was requesting the change because he is considering opening the old Foxy’s Pizza building as a different type restaurant that would be allowed to sell beer by glass and lite wines. C3 ends just about in line with the Radio Shack shopping center. The request was for the area from that area to the property line of Entergy. (Entergy nor anything across from Entergy would fall into this reclassification.) Several home owners from the area (Jane Everett, Marilyn Parker, and the Worell’s) objected to the rezoning feeling the change would devalue their property.
Discussion between the board members present (James Peden, Sue Fulcher, Diane McPhail, Jim Ball, and Robert May) and guest became heated just a few times. When Marilyn Parker asked me how I would feel if “that” were near my house…I told her…”look, I have a warehouse, a railroad track, and a body shop near my house”….the value of my house, due to location, will always be an issue just as will the situation with the people whose homes are in that area due to the apartments….The Zoning board was blind-sided. We had no idea the rezoning was even being considered. The measure was tabled with a decision to be made at 5 o’clock on Tuesday before the regular city Alderman Meeting. What are your thoughts??? Everything on the highway is in zone 3 and comes under the restrictions of zone 3. I don’t know if you have ever read the restrictions for selling beer by the glass…but it is quite interesting…must be in a colored glass…no visible beer signs may be displayed on the outside of the building…you can’t even have a sign inside the restaurant that advertises a beer brand visible from the road…no bars allowed…certain % of food must be sold…pretty strict.
My feelings are not about the beer, they are about potential growth for business. There is practically no highway frontage property left (sure by tractor supply…but not a lot)…this rezoning would allow businesses to be off but near the highway.
I have not decided how I will vote…I am just researching …I have talked to other homeowners in the area and they expressed no problem with the extending of the zoning line. I talked with a real estate person who said that would not affect those people’s property value because the apartments have already caused that situation. The extended area for business could increase their home value.
Our zoning board does not take the job lightly…we want to know what people feel and think…so come to the 5 o’clock meeting…call a board member…express yourself. Our vote is to represent what the people feel…all the people of Magee…not in just a certain area. We are your voice…be heard.
Thanks Sue for expressing my opinion as well as yours.