Despite previous outcry against a blanket business zoning along Highway 10 in Moody, three property owners have applied for and received business zoning in that area.

Public hearings took place Monday to discuss the possibility of changing three residential-zoned properties to various business zonings.

A property owned by Thuan Xuan Phan on Kelley Creek Road was re-zoned B-5 Commercial Industrial Park, and a property owned by James Madison on Lake Side Drive was re-zoned B-3 Tourist Commercial, both without any public remarks.  

However, two local residents addressed the board regarding the Edward Wayne Murphree property off Kelley Creek Road, which was re-zoned B-5 Commercial Industrial Park.

Moody resident Wayne Gaston expressed concern about increased traffic on Kerr Road, should an industrial park be located in that property’s area, as well as concerns about an alternate plan should an industrial development not work out as planned.

Mayor Joe Lee then reiterated that there was no plan for an industrial park in this area of town, and the type of zoning requested would afford use similar to the Red Diamond facility on Highway 10, which consists of a corporate office and warehouse.

“Our industrial park is on Highway 78, out where the tire manufacturing folks are,” Lee said.

Georgeann Mosley also offered her two cents on the re-zoning.

“I don’t think there’s a prettier development anywhere than in the Red Diamond. They have been a credit to the city,” she said. “We would be very fortunate if we could get another Red Diamond to come out, and I think by having the property zoned and ready, we’d be more likely to attract a development like that because they know they wouldn’t have to go through months of zoning to get it approved. I think it would be wise for the city to have the property available.”   

All three applications were unanimously approved by the planning commission at a previous meeting, and all three were also unanimously approved by the city council.