Wednesday night the Paris City Council voted unanimously against the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission to add a new use to the City Zoning ordinance regarding the zoning of a proposed Recyclers Depot on the 4200 block of Lamar Avenue.
Citizens spoke out against the placement of Recyclers Depot adjacent to the southwest entrance to the residential neighborhood of Morningside on Lamar Avenue.
Several residents of Morningside noted concerns with the proposed business’s noise levels, smells, potential explosions, leakage of hazardous fluids such as antifreeze, oil, gas, and battery acid that could possibly runoff into local water flows.
Several citizens agreed that the business should not qualify for retail or commercial zoning but rather light or heavy industrial.
Mayor Matt Frierson said, “I personally think we need to address this, to go with the light industrial with special use permit.”
Council Member Dr. A.J. Hashmi said, “I’m fine with industrial light or heavy. I’m completely opposed to special permit with commercial. This is completely industrial.”
Council Member Richard Grossnickle said, “I believe this should be in heavy industrial perhaps light industrial with special permit on both heavy and light.”
Council Member Lancaster spoke in agreement, “We need to make very very sure where we put these things.”
After the Council heard speakers from the community and discussed the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation, Council Member Hashmi made a motion to not accept the recommendation, but rather to omit the specific use permit in Commercial Zoning, and keep the Light or Heavy Industrial Zoning with special permit.
All Council Members were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. The proposed Recyclers Depot must now qualify for Industrial Zoning.