With the exception of David Rowe, the Town Council of Oak Ridge ignored the legitimate concerns of the Twelve Oaks neighborhood, and voted approval of the proposed commercial development site along Hiway 68.
The chief and repeated concern of the Twelve Oaks neighborhood was their objection to a drive through restuarant in the site development. No one on the council or anyone in the meeting seemed capable of assuring that this could be prevented.
The mayor's concern would lead one to believe that he was more concerned over whether 4 large oak trees would be saved in the site development, rather than the concerns of his constituants regarding the future value of their property. ( Where was this concern when the huge oaks were cut down to build the CVS drugstore?)
I believe that the majority of OR residents would prefer that their property values be kept as high as possible and that local government should strive to protect those values. I do not believe that the council voted in the best interest of this community.
I live in Oak Ridge, but I do not live in the Twelve Oaks community.
Since both sides seem to be a bit annoyed by the decision some would say the town council came pretty close to being fair to everyone.
My main concern is with the tone of the arguments against the rezoning was "now that I live here we need to freeze Oak Ridge so that it stays exactly the way it is".
