NEW BLOOMFIELD, Mo.- The Board of Alderman passed an ordinance Thursday night that rezoned a parcel of land in the city from residential to commercial.
Terry and Norma Shaw, who own the property next to the rezoned parcel, wrote a letter to the Board of Aldermen prior to the meeting and were present Thursday to voice their concerns that a commercial development could move into the property.
"I'm your neighbor," Terry Shaw said to the board Thursday night. "We are at the mercy of whatever (business) goes in there."
City Clerk Terra Guittar said the board had no reason to deny the current property owner of their request to rezone the parcel, which is located near the Bank Star One on old Highway 54 in New Bloomfield. She said the current owners plan to sell the property and wanted to rezone the parcel as commercial to attract a broader range of potential buyers.
When a parcel of land is zoned commercial, owners are permitted to use the property as either commercial or residential. The board, Guittar said, does not yet know who will buy the land and what they will use it for.
Terry Shaw brought to the board's attention how close his home and property is to the house on the rezoned parcel. The Shaw's property line is one foot from their home.
The Shaw's letter stated, "With this close proximity to our property, we are concerned that we will not even be able to erect a privacy fence to help mitigate the impact of any proposed development since to do so would require its erection one foot from our existing structure, driveway and utility pole. Without said privacy fence, we would not be able to inhabit our dwelling, shop or driveway without the feeling that we are on public display."
Mayor Michael Lowe Sr. said he appreciated that the Shaws brought the board their concerns and he echoed Guittar's statement.
"We looked at the (Shaw's) letter," Lowe said. "We look at the overall good for the city. And there was no reason to deny the request to the current property owners."