Cloverdale Council votes against rezone request for parking lot

Already aware of the amount of traffic, especially truck traffic, that is already in the Stardust Hills and Stardust Road areas of Cloverdale, the Cloverdale Town Council sent a clear message last week during its town council meeting. 

At issues was a request by a property owner to rezone 15 acres of a vacant lot from local commercial to general commercial zoning. The property owner wanted to turn three of the 15 acres into a parking lot for semi trucks, RV's, and boats. The petitioner had previously gained a favorable recommendation from the Putnam County Planning Commission. 

After a brief discussion about the amount of truck travel already in the area and what the lot would look like, the council voted 5-0 to reject the request. 

Council vice president Brice Howell told those in attendance it was his opinion the road did not need to handle any more traffic. 

"My opinion is, if we zone it right now it is going to be a slippery slope. If we zone it for a parking lot, what's to say we don't rezone it for something else? I am 100 percent against it. That road gets used enough let alone adding a bunch of semi trucks to it," Howell said. 

Fellow councilman Greg Jay echoed those sentiments, saying the road could not handle more traffic. 

Councilman Scott Stierwalt, who is a semi driver, told the council he is familiar with type of lot in question and he has never seen anything other than dropped semi trailers on the site and never a boat or an RV. 

Greg Jay agreed with Howell, saying the road could not handle more traffic. 

"I know what they are about. Some may be put in places that are beautiful, but first hand, it is a big no for me," Stierwalt said.

A gentleman in the audience told council there is already a significant amount of truck traffic on Stardust Road that is going to C bar C every week. 

"You already have parking with some of them loaded and unloaded on the north side almost across from my entrance to Stardust Hills. We have truck parking in there every night. The other truck traffic with horses, motorhomes and RV's carries a considerable amount of truck traffic," he said. 

Council president Brandon Tancak asked the gentleman if he thought it would be a good idea to have semis constantly going up and down Stardust Road all the way to C bar C. 

"There are semis now," the resident said.

Tancak fired back asking again if the resident thought it would be a good idea for that road and that part of town.  

"I don't think it would hurt it any more than it is being used now," the resident said.

Tancak asked again.  

"You don't think having the traffic of 18 wheelers doubled or tripled to a parking lot that will, ultimately, become a parking lot, you think that's the best for this town? I am asking for your opinion," Tancak said. 

The man responded that while he did not think it would be the best use of that property and road, he would like to see a steakhouse restaurant.