A developer who wants to build a strip mall near the Cedar Ridge subdivision in McComb tried to bargain with residents at a Tuesday meeting, though he failed to win much support.
Hattiesburg developer Cory Brick ultimately said he would put into writing a list of tenants he would not consider for his shopping center in order to have residents’ backing to rezone the property from business-professional to commercial.
The conclusion was reached after Brick’s and fellow developer Tom Conner’s hour-long meeting at City Hall with Cedar Ridge residents.
Brick wants to buy from Conner 1.8 acres of land that runs along Highway 51 and borders the subdivision and build an 18,000- to 20,000-square-foot shopping center that would hold five to 10 businesses.
But Cedar Ridge residents oppose the plan, citing the potential for neighborhood blight and flooding.
Brick and Conner said they would try to satisfy residents’ concerns by drafting deed restrictions that would limit certain businesses to the development.
Brick said it could also include extra property setbacks near residents’ property and possible drainage upgrades.
At the beginning of the meeting Conner provided a tentative list of tenants that would not be considered, including car lots and repair centers, gas stations, mobile home sales, liquor stores, car washes, restaurants with lounges and welding shops.
Throughout the meeting, which was organized by Mayor Zach Patterson, Cedar Ridge residents seemed resistant.
“I don’t know why we’re here,” said resident Kathleen Williams, whose property borders Conner’s.
Residents noted that the city’s planning commission in April denied Conner’s request to rezone the property to commercial.
Brick said he wants the zoning change to give him more options for potential tenants.
He said the zoning change is in the best interest of the neighborhood because it would help retain tenants and prevent the shopping center from going vacant in the long run.
However, Williams said with business-professional zoning, the neighborhood is guaranteed some restrictions.
Brick said if he were to develop now with the business-professional zoning, he could build up to 15 businesses including offices and some stores such as specialty clothing, book stores and others, but the development’s viability would not be as certain.
Brick said he’s willing to work with residents to scrap what they view as unacceptable businesses.
Residents voiced their concerns about the late hours of restaurants and the garbage they collect. They said garbage and noise is already a problem with current development. Brick said he’d consider scrapping all restaurants from the development if that would satisfy residents.
Residents also expressed concern over flooding they say is caused by runoff from recent nearby development.
Flooding used to be a minor problem before nearby shopping centers sprang up.
But trees were cleared to make way for the projects, and now any serious rain causes drainage problems. Residents fear that further development would exacerbate the problem.
“It’s already a problem now,” resident Robbi Cox said.
Brick said he would consider drainage upgrades and a retaining wall to the development, if residents approved the zoning change.
Williams wondered why Brick just couldn’t move further north on Highway 51.
“People in my business don’t want to be further down the road,” Brick said.
