More than 50 Clinton residents gathered in the Old Towne Depot Thursday night to voice concerns over a potential mixed-use development near the Clinton Community Nature Center.
Clinton Mayor Phil Fisher and the Clinton Board of Aldermen heard from several residents asking the board to shut down the new development, which is currently in the planning and zoning stages.
On Tuesday, the Planning and Zoning Committee voted to recommend the rezoning. Next, the Board of Aldermen will vote to make the final decision. The Planning and Zoning Committee's unanimous vote came after a nearly three-hour public hearing in which residents voiced concerns over potential flooding, light pollution and habitat damage.
Thursday's meeting saw similar sentiments.
The residents' concerns stemmed from two main issues: possible flooding and harming the character of the nearby nature center.
The land in question is a 42 acre plot adjacent to the Clinton Community Nature Center, a nonprofit that aims to conserve the surrounding land and offers outdoor walking trails and environmental education. Many are worried these walking trails will be damaged by the noise and light pollution of the new development.
Still in preliminary stages, the new development's exact purpose is not yet pinned down. Kirkland Properties, a Ridgeland-based real estate company, has entered a land agreement and is currently in the process of rezoning the land from residential to mixed-use.
The new development would include luxury townhomes starting at $350,000. Some land would also be reserved for commercial businesses.
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Flooding is a prevalent issue in Clinton. William Twiner spoke to the board Thursday night and said the new development would make the flooding worse. Twiner lives in Kentwood, a neighborhood adjacent to the potential development. Since he moved into his home in 2021, Twiner said he has experienced major flooding issues.
Twiner told the board he is concerned his neighborhood would turn into a "drainage ditch for the new neighborhood."
Thursday's meeting was intended to provide a chance for residents to ask questions and express opinions about the new development. The meeting lasted nearly three hours and at one point lost all decorum as Fisher went back and forth with the audience. The room at times was filled with different passionate voices talking over each other.
Fisher said he believes the mixed-used development is within the best interest of his community. The community present disagreed. Beyond concerns over flooding and the nature center, residents felt as if they weren't being heard.
Several audience members said, "You're not listening to us," from different points in the crowd as the mayor spoke throughout the night.
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The meeting ended without a clear plan on how to move forward. The aldermen did agree that there should be more time to discuss all the pros and cons. Originally, the board was set to vote on the rezoning during their regular meeting Tuesday, Sept. 3.
It remains unclear whether that vote will happen.
Got a news tip? Contact Mary Boyte at mboyte@jackson.gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Clinton residents oppose mixed-use development, feel ignored in public meeting
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