Hernando aldermen consider convenience store/gas station
Photo: A view of a crowded Hernando Board of Aldermen board room during discussion of the proposed convenience store/gas station at Pleasant Hill and McIngvale roads. (City of Hernando YouTube)
Nov 20, 2024-The Hernando Board of Aldermen spent a bulk of its Tuesday meeting hearing arguments for and against a rezoning of a parcel of land at Pleasant Hill and McIngvale from AR to C-4. The proposed rezoning would allow for a convenience store/gas station to be built at the southwest corner of the intersection, something vigorously opposed by residents who live in the area.
At the end of a nearly two hour discussion, aldermen provided a “super majority” of five votes to rezone the land and allow for the construction of the proposed convenience store/gas station.
The reason five votes were required on this item to approve was that the city’s Planning Commission had originally denied the plan.
The item was tabled until Tuesday because the entire board was not available for the Nov. 5 meeting when it was on the agenda and the needed super majority required all of the board to be in attendance.
At the beginning of the discussion, Mayor Chip Johnson put to rest misinformation about the proposal that had been circulating on social media, telling the crowded boardroom, “This is not a truck stop. This is just a convenience store/gas station.”
Johnson went to clarify the plan did not include the selling of diesel fuel. It does have a convenience store with gas pumps and a retail bay where an adjoining business could locate if it is among the permitted uses that went with the zoning change.
With that, the discussion began. Shane King, representing the property owners, said with Pleasant Hill and McIngvale as arterial roads with average daily traffic counts expected to increase, the C-4 zoning is perfect for the intersection.
Cost sharing of improvements to help in traffic safety was also being offered, including the addition of a dedicated right turn lane on Pleasant Hill to turn south to McIngvale.
Then the list of more than 20 residents opposed to the move presented their arguments against it. Residents were worried about a potential increase in crime once built, the increased traffic, safety issues with its close proximity to the new Hernando High School campus, and they felt it was not a good time for its placement at that location.
“We like the idea of commercial things going in there, but not a convenience store. It’s not the right time for a convenience store there,” said Sherry Price.
At the end of the discussion, Alderman Ben Piper said he shared some of the concerns that residents in his ward had. Piper represents the area where the convenience store/gas station would be located.
“Change is difficult and I understand that, but it’s also something that’s consistent and change is always going to happen,” Piper said. “As aldermen we have to manage that change as best as we can.”
When the call came for a motion, Alderman Andrew Miller moved to approve the zoning change, which was seconded by Alderman Bruce Robinson, who was attending the meeting remotely by phone.
The roll call vote for those in the room had four in favor, with Piper and Alderwoman Natalie Lynch voted no. But Robinson was the last board member to vote and it was his affirmative vote that sealed approval with the needed five-vote margin.
Aldermen also made a presentation of the city’s Community Service Award for the fourth quarter of 2024 to the Hernando Youth Football Association. Started in 2003, the association, commonly known as HYFA, has helped grow the sport at all levels of the community.
Miller noted the award, made each quarter by the City, was the first presented to a local group, instead of simply to one person.
