Now we know much better why that
huge development (and possible "westside" Walmart) won't happen...
It would have been a tremendous boost to westside/southside development.
May 2, 2007
Hyundai's neighbor gives up on land development plan
By Paul W. Sullivan
montgomeryadvertiser.com
In a month, Jim Scoma will auction off more than 150 acres that have been in his family for almost 100 years. He's giving up his dream for the land straight across from the Hyundai plant.
He's finished trying to develop pastureland south of Hyundai Boulevard, finished trying to bring progress to his part of the world.
The city and Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama itself have frustrated the retired Delta Airlines internal auditor long enough.
A decade or so ago, Scoma thought progress was being made when city planners started contacting him about putting utilities and fire hydrants in the area. He felt "doubly blessed" years later when Hyundai decided to build a plant on what was then Teague Road and is now Hyundai Boulevard.
Now, the Fayette County, Ga., resident sees Hyundai as an unwelcome neighbor. It was the South Korean car maker, he insists, that kept the utilities on its side -- the north side -- of the road, on 35 to 40 feet of right-of-way that he donated for the "cause of Hyundai."
And it was Hyundai, Scoma is sure, that kept the city from granting his request to rezone his land for retail, commercial and residential uses.
"We cooperated with Hyundai," said Scoma, 64. "My family and I have always treated others like we would want to be treated, or even better."
Hyundai adamantly denies Scoma's claim.
"Rezoning decisions are within the purview of the city planning commission," media specialist Paul Dunbar wrote in an e-mail. "They have held public hearings and HMMA has spoken our opinions based on the developer's proposal. We are awaiting a proposed master plan for the development of the entire area."
Mayor Bobby Bright sides with Hyundai. The city denied Scoma's rezoning request because mixed development isn't the best use for the property.
"You have a truck pulling in Hyundai about every minute," Bright said. "We want to develop that area, but do we want to put housing right across the street?"
Scoma started thinking seriously about development six years ago. It was then that the city came calling, seeking an additional source of water since the Scoma land sits on an aquifer. The city dug five wells and put in water mains. He thought that for sure would trigger development.
"For the water and the wells, we pretty much gave that land away," Scoma said. "As a result we told ourselves we are going to be able to develop lots."
Then came Hyundai. Scoma found a developer who wanted to build 1,400 homes, put in a shopping center and motel space. Then, poof, the contractor lost interest.
Along came another contractor, and Scoma conducted traffic impact studies along Hyundai Road. The cost of the studies: $15,000.
The city and Scoma were getting along to this point. City traffic engineer Bubba Bowden said Scoma's group had agreed to do everything the city asked. Scoma said the contractor was communicating with the planning commission.
Then, Scoma said, Hyundai weighed in against any development on the south side of Hyundai Boulevard.
Lawrence "Buck" Roll agrees with Scoma's assessment of Hyundai's position. He and Waylon Price co-own Price and Roll Cattle Co. across from the plant.
Roll said he initially thought Hyundai would want the cattle business gone to make way for development. At the planning commission meetings, though, he heard a plant representative clearly state the company didn't want development south of Hyundai Boulevard.
Roll said he once had a developer interested in his property but "threw in the towel." He doesn't have any regrets with his decision and is happy running his business.
Now, the city is preparing a land-use study for its fastest-growing parts. One part is the land near Hyundai, including Scoma's tract, said planning chief Ken Groves.
Despite his decision to sell, Scoma has a development plan that the City Council has never acted on. It's been tabled three times. And the council won't make a decision until it receives the land-use study, which Groves estimates won't be done for a couple of months.
Scoma doesn't want to wait anymore on studies.
"I'm sick and tired of fooling with it," Scoma said. "We tried to satisfy Montgomery, Hyundai and everybody all along, anything we could possibly do."
Scoma got the development plan to the council on his own. He needed five of the nine members of the Planning Commission to recommend it to the council. He got only three votes.
He appealed the decision. The plan was introduced to the council in early September. It comes up again on June 5, the day before the auction.
City Council President Charles Jinright said the city will allow development around Hyundai but must plan for it. Some cities, he pointed out, have encountered trouble with "spot zoning," which would allow a manufacturing plant next to a home.
For his part, Scoma is looking forward to the auction just to bring the story to a close.
"I thought Montgomery would be more than receptive to my ideas," Scoma said. "I came back over here completely embarrassed with Montgomery and the attitude they showed in this."
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