An ongoing squabble between neighbors in Ashville continued Monday during the council meeting and it could continue until the council meeting in June.Butch and Sherry Herren are opposed to Larry D. Strother rezoning 2.06 acres of his property from R-1 to B-2, although it was approved by the council at the March 24 meeting after being okayed by the Ashville Planning and Zoning Board.
At a public hearing April 7, the Herrens voiced opposition saying the property has restrictions and covenants. At that public hearing, Mayor Robert McKay turned the matter over to city attorney Alex Weisskopf for a recommendation at last Monday’s meeting.
Weisskopf said Monday there were restrictions on the property and that the council has the right to rezone the property or they could refuse to rezone it.
“That leaves us hiring an attorney,” said Butch Herren. “I don’t want to sit out on my back porch and see the back end of a Dollar Tree on the lake. Once you allow one, then everyone else will want to do the same.”
Strother said his intention is to run a hobby. He also stated that if 75 percent of the landowners do not object to this rezoning, then it could happen.
This percentage equates to 16 property owners.
“If 75 percent do agree with me, that will clear this problem up,” Strother said. “I have not had the time to talk to all 16 property owners but I intend to do so.”
“I don’t want this property rezoned,” Butch Herren said. “
One of the property owners, Ken Hare, said he has lived in Ashville all his life and he did not see what the difference was.
After several minutes of arguing back and forth by various individuals, Butch Herren said people are different in Ashville but he and his wife “obey the law.”
Weisskopf determined the first hearing date in front of the zoning board was March 11 and they have 90 days from that time period.
The council agreed to table the issue and McKay said it would be resolved at the June 2 meeting.
Councilman Ronnie White encouraged all in attendance to be careful of accusations without facts and be respectful of each other’s feelings.
“Let’s step back and see what is best for the entire city,” White said. “Regardless of what we think, change is taking place. There are already several businesses over there. We have to live peacefully together.”
