After two public meetings, a local greenhouse business will not be allowed to rezone a portion of their property from residential to agriculture. Several nearby residents applauded as the decision was handed down by the Guthrie city council.
At Tuesday night’s council meeting, a 6-0 vote was cast to deny the application submitted by Guthrie Greenhouses. Councilman Don Channel recused himself from the discussion and voting due to conflict of his business doing business with the greenhouse company.
Earlier this year in October, the Planning Commission also vote to decline the application with a 2-1 vote. Related article: Planning commission agrees with neighbors on not rezoning agriculture for greenhouse company
Owners of the Guthrie Greenhouses, Jesse and Tara Tischauser, was asking to rezone six acres on their current property from general residential (R-2) to agriculture for additional greenhouses.
The east side of the property of Guthrie Greenhouse (intersection of Mockingbird Dr. and N. Walnut Street) was the property in question. The open land, located in a flood plain, is surrounded by several homes.
The City of Guthrie received 49 property owner signatures in protest of the proposed rezone.
Ryan Jones, who was representing the owners, says the property is residential, but it can not be used for residential purposes.
“That’s the ultimate thing we’re trying to avoid is having a piece of land that can’t be used for anything,” Jones told council members.
Five residents spoke to the council in opposition of the rezoning plan.
Property owners shared many reasons why they did not want to see the expansion but primarily the concern of negative impact on property values.
“My family shows livestock all around the country,” resident Ryan Codding began telling the council. “I would love to rezone my house and keep a show calf or two there when they are sick or need to do a little work. It would be kinda nice, but its just not the area. It’s a family area.”
Y’all should be ashamed of yourselves. The people who voted against it, the closed minded neighbors who signed a stupid petition, and Guthrie news source for not telling the whole story.
Y’all should be ashamed of yourselves. The people who voted against it, the closed minded neighbors who signed a stupid petition, and Guthrie news source for not telling the whole story.
I would love to put a soccer field on that space.