Putnam County commissioners hit the pause button last Tuesday on a controversial rezoning request that would allow a convenience store with gas pumps near the Phoenix Crossing subdivision.
After more than an hour of public testimony, the board voted to table the proposal, leaving the fate of the three-acre site on the southwest corner of Old Phoenix and New Phoenix roads undecided.
The applicant, Imperial Park Holdings LLC, represented by Rick McAllister, requested rezoning for 301 New Phoenix Rd. from Agricultural (AG) to Commercial (C-1). McAllister claimed the project is a logical extension of nearby commercial zoning.
“This property is in the middle of other commercial parcels,” he told the commission. “The uses we’re proposing are consistent with the area, and the owners should have the right to develop under county standards.”
The Putnam County Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval, provided the developer installs turn lanes, records the plat within 120 days, and restricts the property to the stated use.
However, several Phoenix Crossing and other county residents attended the meeting in opposition to the request, citing concerns about health, the environment, and quality of life.
“This rezoning is not in compliance with the code,” Phoenix Crossing HOA board member Sharon Callahan stated. “Not all eight requirements for C-1 zoning have been met, particularly when it comes to safety, landscaping, and environmental protection. Our quality of life, health, and safety would be diminished.”
Traffic was another recurring theme. Holding his young, preschool daughter in his arms, Phoenix Crossing resident Joey Wood argued for the safety of all his children.
“If you put a gas station on the corner, people will be turning around through our entrance. My kids, the reason we picked our neighborhood is that it’s very family-friendly. They enjoy riding their bicycles, playing basketball, and other activities. I don’t want to have to tell them they can’t do that anymore because there’s too much traffic,” Wood said.
Likewise, nearby resident Aaron Olson pointed out that congestion is already increasing in the Phoenix Crossing area.
“Adding a gas station will only make it more dangerous,” he claimed.
Jennifer Ray pointed out another danger associated with gas stations, specifically the release of carcinogenic benzene.
“Scientific studies show increased risks of leukemia and other cancers when gas stations are built near residential neighborhoods,” she said. “It’s scary to think about this being across the street from families and children.”
Several locals also pointed to other C-1 parcels at the intersection that remain undeveloped.
“There’s no need to rezone more property when existing sites sit empty,” HOA president Susan Mitchell said.
Former county commission chairman Billy Webster suggested the proposed project ignores prior long-term planning measures.
“The 2022 Joint Comprehensive Plan designates this corridor for future residential use,” Webster claimed. “To approve this request would directly contradict the plan we just adopted.”
Essentially, public testimony reflected a divide on the commission between those emphasizing neighborhood protection and those stressing the rights of property owners.
District 3’s Stephen Hersey stepped up with the first motion on the rezoning request, calling for denial.
“It’s not in harmony with the future land use map,” Hersey stated. “We’re talking about groundwater contamination, traffic, and setting a precedent that could open up 30 acres to commercial development. I just don’t think that’s what the community wants.”
District 2 Commissioner Richard Garrett agreed, noting that “every single resident who spoke tonight opposed this project.” He later added, “We’ve made mistakes with rezonings before, but that doesn’t mean we have to keep making them.”
However, District 4’s Jeff Wooten noted the value of adding a gas station to what presently remains a largely rural area of the county. He suggested “farmers in the area could benefit from this,” if diesel is among the fuels eventually made available, if a gas station is approved.
Commissioner Tom McElhenney, who represents District 1, in which the property in question lies, said he’s received calls both for and against the project and can sense the love and understand the reasoning from both sides.
“I support property owners’ rights,” McElhenney eventually said, suggesting the board consider approval with stricter conditions to address residents’ concerns.
Board Chairman Bill Sharp reminded the commission that zoning changes can be reversed if necessary, but cautioned that decisions must align with the county’s comprehensive plan.
“The plan will be reviewed in 2026,” he said. “But we have to follow proper procedures now.”
A motion by Hersey to deny the request failed. McElhenney then moved to table the decision, giving the board more time to consider whether additional conditions could make the project more acceptable. That motion passed, leaving the proposal unresolved.