Developer hopes to end re-zoning battle tonight

By By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
April 15, 2003
A Meridian developer hopes to end a near decade-long battle tonight to re-zone about an acre of his property back to commercial.
Jack Joyner said he and residents of his subdivision, Country Squire Estates on Highway 39 North, have reached an agreement to settle the case.
In the agreement, Joyner will get about an acre of his property zoned back to commercial, while the remaining 790 feet will stay residential.
Councilmen are expected tonight to vote on the agreement during their regular 7 p.m. Meridian City Council meeting at the downtown police station.
The vote will follow a 6:30 p.m. public hearing on the case, which was postponed last month after attorneys from both sides vowed to reach common ground.
The vote comes nearly 10 years after the property, just off Highway 39 North near Reflections of the Modern Garden, was re-zoned from commercial to residential.
Since then, Joyner has complained to city officials that the property should return to commercial. Joyner said the land is worthless as residential because "no one wants a house facing that busy highway."
Some of the residents in the subdivision, however, have said they wanted the property to remain residential because they don't want a business near their homes a stand that has left both sides deadlocked.
Ward 1 Councilman George Thomas said he hopes the issue ends tonight.
Joyner said "just about everyone" in the subdivision has agreed to the new deal which was drawn up by a group representing the residents.
Even though he feels like he's been cheated over the past few years and lost thousands of dollars in the property, he's just happy an end is in sight.