Smackover council denies rezoning request

SMACKOVER — The Smackover City Council called a zoning meeting in order to discuss the possibility of rezoning a residential lot to a commercial one on Monday, May 1.

Two Smackover residents, Ellen and Todd McKnight came to the council several months ago to ask that the council consider commercializing the lot that is besides theirs because they had purchased it and was hoping to turn it into a motorcycle tire change shop.

On this lot there is a small 16-by-19 foot shop that McKnight would use to conduct his business.

“I saw a need for it in this area, because there is no one who will take the tire off of the bike and change it for you and put it back on. You have to have the tire off when you bring it to the shop,” McKnight explained.

He felt that there would be enough interest to generate revenue.

“We are members of the Christian Motorcycle Association, and anyone we have talked to about it, seemed very interested in using the service if we are allowed to open,” said McKnight.

One concerned citizen came to the event to voice her concerns about the noise that would be interrupting the otherwise peaceful neighborhood.

McKnight quickly assured her that the work would be done by appointment only and that the bikes would be brought in on trailers because of the type of work that they would need done.

Several years ago, the Council worked on defining commercial from residential areas in the town. They set very cut and dry lines where the commercial areas would stop.

“The only thing I have heard (from other residents of the town) is people’s concern that if we take a residential lot and turn it into a commercial, rezone it, they are worried about their neighborhood and their house if their neighbor decided that they wanted to put in a business, what’s there to stop them from putting in something be intrusive and decrease their property value,” said Council member Tommie Fleming.

One point that was brought up by the McKnights was other home-based business that are located in residential areas, but according to the board, these were all grandfathered in under the old zoning laws and their had been no new business that wanted in these areas until now.

“If we do it for one, we would have to do it for the next, and the one after that,” said Alderman Chris long before agreeing with the rest of the board for a unanimous no.

Due to these past laws, the council denied the McKnights their request to rezone the area.