Another zoning controversy is brewing in Chester County.
This one involves City Councilman Alan Clack and his plans to move his family’s trucking business, D & C Trucking, to a 10-acre site on Great Falls Highway.
The county’s planning commission unanimously shot down a rezoning request for the property in January. But two weeks ago, the Chester County Council overturned that decision, meaning the trucking business could get the rezoning it needs after all.
On the night of the council's first vote, Jack Cabrey, vice chairman of the county’s planning commission, stated his concern that the rural area around the site of the proposed trucking business is a residential place not designed for heavy truck traffic.
So why give the trucking company what it wants?
Councilman Archie Lucas said trucks have to travel the main roads. Councilwoman Mary Guy added that the business employs people and Chester needs workers.
The lone opposing vote came from Councilman Brad Jordan, who noted that the planning commission’s vote wasn’t close and it would be a mistake to overturn that decision.
As for Councilmen Alex Oliphant and Joe Branham, they abstained from voting: Oliphant said it’s because he does business with D & C and Branham said it’s because his family owns land across the road from the site.
Tonight, property owners frustrated with the council’s decision to overturn the planning commission’s recommendation made their case to the council. They said they were concerned about truck traffic and pollution. They also noted that this is a rural farming community not prepared for industry.
Despite their pleas, the council voted exactly the same way, with Jordan expressing fears about "spot zoning."
The irony of the situation is that the council also voted tonight to uphold the planning commission’s decision not to rezone an 8-acre property on Stringfellow Road.
The reason for that rezoning request?
To accommodate a trucking business much smaller than D & C.
Rezoning corruption
Something stinks in Chester. Is it: the plan to ruin a perfectly quiet community with a 10 acre trucking facility with diesel exhaust and the roar of the 31 big rigs or is it the individuals that want a ridiculous request to jump from residential all the way to industrial. Something stinks of "fishy" activity. Chester is struggling there's no doubt about that, and now we know why from some of the posted comments. With idiotic requests like this no wonder Chester hasn't caught up with Rock Hill. I have spoken with county officials and they have said that they have never seen a unanimous decision to deny, switch back to favor such a innapropriate request. The owner should know better, it's kind of strange that he waited until he inherited the land to put a loud and filthy facility. Hmmmm....maybe he knew that the original owner wouldn't want to live near a 31 truck facility. Shame on you!! But what does he care, he doesn't have to live near it!!!