Rezoning, public safety, and downtown development discussed at March city council

Progress on the shared first responder's public safety complex, a fruitful annual report from Jackson's Downtown Development Corporation, and an extensive discussion on zoning highlight Jackson's March city council meeting.

Public safety complex

Progress is being made in the plans for a shared public safety complex between the Jackson Police and Fire Departments. Proposed by Police Chief Thom Corley and Fire Chief Don Friddle to the city council in November 2022, the complex would serve as a much-needed upgrade from their current buildings.

While JPD has outgrown the current 50-year-old building, continuous maintenance concerns like mold and leaks are prompting the push for a new facility.

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On Tuesday, the city council unanimously approved a $16,000 budget amendment on first reading that will cover the cost of a survey to determine the optimal location for the complex.

The new complex will be in the existing vicinity of where Fire Station #1 and JPD headquarters are currently located, with the old buildings anticipated to be deconstructed.

Mayor Scott Conger noted that in a conventional master planning process, the area would be surveyed upon commencement of construction. For the new facility's circumstances, its location in an older part of town entails the potential construction interference of the underground utility lines and radio lines and why the complex is not being master planned conceptually first.

"It's very strategic in how we're doing that and so we're going to need to survey the land so they can know this is where we're going to place it based on those lines and things like that," Conger said.

The survey and master plan are expected to be completed by fall with consequent conversations of how to receive state and federal funds to cover costs.

Downtown on the up and up

Responsible for fostering and promoting the continued growth, beautification, and expansion of downtown, Jackson Downtown Development Corporation (JDDC) Director Beth Ann Simpson shared highlights from its annual report with the council.

An annual report is required for JDDC to maintain its state and national Main Street Accreditation.

Numbers are reflective of the boundaries where Royal St. meets Highland Ave. and where Airways Blvd. meets Johnson St.

Some of the highlights from the report include:

• 23 new businesses with 156 new jobs associated

• 27 building rehabilitation projects

• 6 new housing and construction projects

• $11,829,655 total public and private investment

Annexation and rezoning

Clay Williams, a concerned citizen representing about a dozen of his neighbors, expressed concerns to the council regarding the annexation and rezoning of property in the area off of Highway 70 and Browns Church Rd.

Development plans for an industrial park have prompted questions and pushback from residents of Browns Church Rod, Cobb Rd, and Cotton Grove Rd.

Because the land is already zoned I-2 (industrial) by the county, and City Planning Director Stan Pilant says it would always be used for industrial development, and in this case, a Class A industrial park. The benefit of annexation is merely a utility provisional issue, according to Pilant.

Truck access on Browns Church Road, truck traffic, noise, the presence of hazardous material, interference with wildlife, and the impact on property values were some of the concerns expressed by Williams on behalf of residents.

Representing the property owner, Brad Anderson of H&M Architects Engineers Inc. assured Williams that Browns Church Road would not be used as an access road and all entries would be made through Highyway 70. He added that the owner plans to leave the existing vegetation.

"We want to be a good neighbor," Anderson said.

The council voted unanimously on first reading to move forward with the annexation and rezoning.

This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: Update on public safety complex, downtown development, and rezoning