North Jackson residents concerned over Epperson Dr. housing development, traffic

An impressive showing of residents from a number of neighborhoods in north Jackson flooded Tuesday's city council meeting to voice their concerns regarding the first item on the agenda — a land rezoning request for an 18.5 acre plot of land off Epperson Drive.

The land, which has been planned as a single-family subdivision since 2001, was brought before the council to apply for rezoning from Single Family Residential (RS) to Single Family Residential 1—the only difference essentially being the size of the lots allowed on the property.

Developers of the property wished to move from the 38 to 40 allowed lots under RS classification to the 48 lots allowed under RS1 classifications.

Residents of the surrounding neighborhoods voiced their dissent.

Steve Neil, of Rockfoot Drive, presented a map to the council on behalf of the area’s homeowners association, and explained the concerns of residents.

“We want our city to use responsible planning for the residents of our city and any future Jackson development,” he said.

Neil explained that a second access point was desperately needed, as the single access point currently being eyed —a looping path off of Old Humboldt Road, through Northpointe and Hanover Drive— made timely access to the recess of the proposed subdivisions impossible for first responders, and would likely overload the current residential streets that were not made for such traffic.

“I want the development to be done right,” he said. “It makes absolutely no sense…we’re not opposed to development, or the growth of our city. We’re opposed to the one access point. We need multiple access points.”

Residents are calling for a second access point to be built off of Old Humboldt Road. Developers, however, say that is “almost impossible.”

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Kenny Sutherland, one of the developers on the project, explained that they were not against a second access point, but the point at which residents want it built is simply not feasible.

“A blue-line stream runs right beside (the proposed access point),” he said. “It makes no sense to build a road there, because we could only develop on one side.”

City Planning Director Stan Pilant explained the issue of the blue-line stream.

“A blue-line stream is a protected stream because it’s a stream that’s carrying water for more than just storm events—sometimes its tributary of an existing creek or something,” he said. “But usually, it carries more water than a wet weather conveyance. So blue-line streams—by the nature that they carry more water—are protected from erosion or development, because if you impact the ability of that stream to carry water, you cause drainage problems and flooding.”

The presence of a blue-line stream means developers cannot build within 60 feet of either side of the stream—limiting the developer’s plans to one side of the stream.

Regardless, a steady line of residents spoke before the city council stating the same concerns. The rezoning was passed on first reading, however, in a 5-2 vote, with Councilmembers Paul Taylor and Marda Wallace declining, and Gary Pickens and Ross Priddy absent.

The rezoning will go to second reading at the August city council meeting, and following that passage, will wait for the developer to submit their schematics to the Planning Commission.

That meeting will be open to the public, but will not allow public comment, as per normal.

Wallace, however, plans the meet them there with questions.

“I do feel like we’re going into areas, building homes, and not really looking at our stormwater or our infrastructure,” she said following the meeting. “So my concern today was—when you have a main road, and the area in question to be developed is so close to Old Humboldt, why aren’t we providing access? What they’re proposing to do is go in Northpointe, driving through subdivisions, around homes, and into this area.

“Wouldn’t it be more advantageous to homeowners in this area, especially when you think about fire and ambulances coming in through this neighborhood and winding around, to have a direct path? I wouldn’t want to be the home right here (at the end).”

She nodded resolutely. “I think there’s issues there with the blue-line stream issue. I think this can be looked at.”

Have a story to tell? Reach Angele Latham by email at alatham@gannett.com, by phone at 731-343-5212, or follow her on Twitter at @angele_latham. 

This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: North Jackson residents concerned over incoming housing development