CLARK COUNTY, Ind. — Shock, then applause. It was the sound of relief from many living in Memphis, Indiana on Thursday.
A packed room of nearly 100 at the Clark County Board of Commissioners meeting celebrated when a developer said he's withdrawing his rezoning request for 183 acres at the intersection of Columbus Mann Road and Crone Road.
"When I heard that honestly I was relieved, because I think that it is fair," said Memphis resident Cara Kennedy.
Premier Homes developer Jeff Corbitt announced the withdrawal of an R2 zoning request, which would change land zoned for agriculture to land zoned for medium density residences. The farmland will remain agricultural but be a "conservation subdivision," which requires builders to preserve 25% of the land.
Still, Corbitt told WHAS11 he plans on building about 500 single family units.
"Although I will say I think that that's a large amount for the rural area that it's in, it's 500 compared to the potential 1000 plus," Kennedy said, who grew up on an adjoining property. "I think everybody in the community would say 'hey, we would take that all day long.'"
The small town of Memphis is home to about 1,000 residents. Kennedy's family has lived near the proposed development for 37 years.
"It was important to get involved to be able to protect that, not only for my parents and my family, but for the piece of the home I hold in my heart," she said.
Bobby Windell is a Memphis resident who also has an adjoining property.
"We know growth is coming," Windell said. "We've all accepted growth."
His concern was the magnitude of the proposed development.
"If we're going to inconvenience people, let's do it in stages where we don't put a thousand -- double or triple the population -- just off a one or two hundred acre tract," Windell said.
Kennedy is calling the decision a "win" for residents protesting against the agreement that would have turned nearly 200 acres of farmland into housing.
"I feel like it is a compromise for everybody involved," Kennedy said.
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