OLIVE BRANCH, MS (abc24.com) - A zoning battle is underway in Olive Branch. Residents living near the intersection of Stateline and Germantown Roads don't want businesses nearby. Now, it's up to the city.
Two years ago the neighborhood fought this battle and won. The idea was brought up again and residents are preparing to do battle again.
"All that right there will be cut down and turned into a drug store," points out Graham Stuckey.
It's a piece of the country in the middle of the city. "Look at it, it's beautiful," Stuckey says of the 14 acres right off Germantown Road. "This is one of the main arteries going from Memphis."
While plans to develop the land don't bother Stuckey, "we're right in middle of civilization anyway," he says. Plenty of his neighbors don't want things to change.
"I know the people all the way down this whole street. I've spoke with several of them and nobody wants it to go commercial."
Some are worried about extra traffic, like Lenwood Johnson. "If you come out here about 5 o'clock its bumper to bumper." Johnson's family lives right across the street from the site.
"My son just purchased this land. I was thinking all of it's going to be residential." Johnson's son is on the Tennessee side of the road.
"Right next door," he says. "But I doubt if they'll let us say anything about it because it would be zoned in Mississippi."
Olive Branch's mayor says anyone who's concerned can speak at the zoning hearing. Johnson already knows what he'll say. "We'd like to stay residential."
"Shoot, it's progress," says Stuckey. "If you want to be in the country you're going to have to move."
The zoning hearing will be December 4th at 6:30 p.m. at the courthouse.
