By KATIE WISELY
WISH-TV | wishtv.com
Hamilton County resident Terry Henderson says the barn he wants to build will be part of his agricultural technology company, but some neighbors are divided over whether it belongs on the proposed land. Henderson says the barn is for his company, but those opposing it say the land is not zoned for commercial development.
The barn, with proposed named The Eagle’s Aerie, could be built right off East 276th Street. The project has been in the works for years, and Henderson said there’s enough land and trees to separate the business from neighbors.
Terry Henderson is proposing construction of “The Eagle’s Aerie” off East 276th Street in northern Hamilton County. (Artistic rendering provided)
But some neighbors have lined the rural road with signs opposing the development.
“It sets a bad precedent for other commercial developments to come to this area,” neighbor Ben Cox said.
“We try to be really good neighbors,” Henderson said.
Henderson owns both the land and Achieva, an agricultural technical company and communications business that specializes in virtual training. He explained the project to the Hamilton County Planning Commission in February. Henderson said the barn will be used for agricultural training sessions and community events.
“I think it comes down to truly not understanding that this is going to be an agricultural technology barn,” Henderson said.
Neighbors say the land is zoned for non-commercial development. Planning Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt said the property is zoned with one of the county’s agricultural designations.
Heirbrandt
“This final phrase says commercial agriculture purpose and I view this – as well as five other members that voted for a favorable recommendation on the planning commission – that their business is an agricultural business and fits into those requirements,” Heirbrandt said.
“This business is actually a sales and marketing business,” Cox said. “It has agricultural clients and that’s a big difference.”
Henderson said private functions like weddings could potentially take place at the barn.
News 8 obtained minutes from the last planning commissioners meeting, where Henderson was asked if he had previously held functions on his land, which spans more than 100 acres.
“We’ve never had a complaint about anything,” Henderson said.
“No complaints from one party,” Cox said. “Maybe people just lived with it.”
Cox
People who oppose the project say they’re concerned about the noise and traffic.
“This is a general disturbance and a different use from what the surrounding areas are and even if the building is disguised as a different type of structure, it’s not going to fit into this area and what this agricultural area means to us,” Cox said.
As development in Hamilton County continues to move north, Henderson says it’s just part of the future.
But Cox doesn’t want it near his land.
“It’s going to be directly in sight of several neighbors that I think it reduces their residential property value,” he said.
The Board of Zoning Appeals will vote next Wednesday. If the project passes, the barn is expected to be finished by October.