Shopping center waiting on commercial zoning

For about six months I’ve been telling you about a proposed 100,000-square-foot shopping center development on Old Shelbyville Road near its intersection with the bypass. From what I can gather, it’s all systems go for the shopping center provided the zoning can be changed from residential to commercial.

There was a called public meeting to debate exactly that Monday night by McMinnville’s Planning and Zoning Committee. However, the meeting hit a snag. Only three of the committee’s seven members bothered to show up meaning there wasn’t a quorum. No quorum meant no action could be taken.

I should also mention there was a feisty crowd gathered at city hall to protest the zoning change. Diane Starkey, who has property next to the proposed shopping center, had a petition with 117 signatures that urged city officials not to change the zoning.

But here’s what gets me. The next public meeting was scheduled for Sept. 12, which is one month away. When you talk about the wheels of government moving slowly, this has to be Exhibit A.

Our local government has long been criticized for missing out on potential industry because it takes action at the speed of a turtle. And while the city hasn’t generally been guilty of this, it has to be disheartening for a developer to see plans delayed for an entire month just because enough people didn’t show up to vote.

That doesn’t send a message that we’re interested in bringing new stores to our community. It says we have better things to do. So we’ll have to wait until Sept. 12 to see if this new shopping center gets the green light.