He’s aware many people believe the “highest and best use” of the property next to Thrasher Elementary where developers want to build a subdivision would be to incorporate the property into the school campus, the chairman of the Signal Mountain Planning Commission observed Thursday evening.
But county school officials have shown no interest in the property, as far as he knows, Wayne Williams said during a commission meeting where the proposed development was discussed at length. Unfortunately, what the developers are proposing is a legitimate alternative, he said.
Todd Henon, the realtor who arranged the 120 day option for the sale of the 10.55-acre parcel to would-be developers of the proposed Danbury Subdivision, said school officials have shown no sign they are interested in acquiring any of the property for Thrasher’s use.
“They’ve known about it for 100 years,” he said after the meeting, noting that the people who own the property now for sale are the same people who sold the school system the land on which Thrasher was built.
Still, a variety of people in the crowd indicated that if the developers decide not the exercise the option they currently have on the property, other potential buyers are waiting in the wings to snap it up.
Town Council member Susan Robertson, for example, said after the meeting she has heard that a group of residents of The Orchard – an existing subdivision adjacent to the property in question – would like to buy it and donate part of the land to Thrasher.
Brad Wier, a resident of The Orchard, confirmed that is one of several options under consideration by some of his neighbors.
“There are much better uses for that property (than a subdivision),” Mr.
Wier said. “There are 100-year-old trees growing there.”
Mr. Henon, the realtor, said he was simply carrying out the landowner’s wishes when he arranged the potential sale to the would-be developers.
There’s no mystery about how the developer of the proposed subdivision knew the property was on the market when no For Sale sign was ever posted and virtually nobody else did, he said.
“I represent people who want to sell property, and I represent people who want to buy property,” he explained. “At any time, I have a list of people interested in buying (properties such as the Danbury site).”
Consequently, when an appropriate piece of property comes on the market, he said, he lets the potential buyers on his list know about it.
During the meeting, a variety of concerned community residents – worried about potential traffic, waste disposal, stormwater run-off and other potential problems related to the proposed Danbury Subdivision – said they’re not dead set against the project.
“But if you build it . . . we want some input,” one man said during the meeting.
They will have input, Mr. Williams assured the crowd attending the meeting. The concerns they raise, as well as developers’ responses, he noted, will all be taken into consideration if and when planning commissioners finally vote on the project.