letter to the editor
Reader wants to ‘clarify’ his Hy-Vee comments at FMPC
In response to the May 24 (farragutpress) article, “Hy-Vee back on Town radar,” I want to clarify what the article fails to state regarding my comments at the (Farragut Municipal) Planning Commission meeting. First, I did state that the Town should ensure that Hy-Vee gets the same due process rights as the developer for Biddle Farm.
My comments were directed toward the tone of the Town Staff’s comments advising that the Town complete the upcoming Significant Public Outreach prior to approving the Hy-Vee proposal.
During the Biddle Farm discussion, 244 people wrote into the Board of Mayor and Alderman and over 1,400 signed a petition asking the Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA) to pause their vote and conduct the appropriate Significant Public Outreach to discuss the entire Mixed-Use Town Center (MUTC) area. Town officials have repeatedly said that part of the reason for not delaying their vote on the Biddle Farm project is the developer had a right to due process on their request.
Hy-Vee is in a similar situation, as they, too, have been working with the Town and residents regarding their request for months now. Yet, as the article states, this time the Town is advocating that the Significant Public Outreach should be conducted first. This is exactly what I and others requested two-and-a-half years ago. We asked to stop and let’s discuss the entire MUTC area before making major changes to the area.
So, what is the difference between the two? BOMA wanted the Biddle Farm project and they don’t want Hy-Vee. Neither was compliant with Zoning Ordinance at the time they were brought to the Town for discussion. In the Biddle Farm case, BOMA changed the C-1 Zoning Ordinance to allow for horizontal mixed-use (i.e., freestanding apartments). In Hy-Vee’s case, they advocate for what they denied residents in 2021.
Second, the article failed to state my other major point at the Planning Commission meeting. Namely, I said, “I believe that removing the Mixed-Use Town Center Overlay to allow a 115,000-square foot grocery store is a major update as defined in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan.”
I further said, “I ask that the Planning Commission discuss MUTC Overlay removal and vote to determine if there is consensus that this removal is indeed considered a ‘major update’.” That decision is critical to the remainder of the discussion on this proposal.
If you agree that the removal is a major update, then the Hy-Vee proposal should be voted down as a 115,000 square foot commercial building is not consistent with the C-1 Zoning Ordinance.”
This is a simple case of determining if the change constitutes a “major update.” Yet, the Planning Commission had no discussion or agreement that this removal is or isn’t.
So, while the farragutpress article insinuates that I was advocating for approval of the Hy-Vee plan; in actuality, I was advocating the Town hear their case and vote appropriately. To me, the appropriate vote would be to deny the request as it is not consistent with the zoning ordinance.
The needed changes are, in my opinion, a “major update” and requires significant public outreach with the community prior to making any changes. This is the exact same position I held on the Biddle Farm vote.
Michael Wilson, Farragut
