A planned organic restaurant by the upscale Black Creek development in Lookout Valley has gotten a thumbs down from the Planning Commission.
The panel also recommended denial for a special permit requested by Virindra Masaphi to allow travel trailers on his four-acre property on West Hills Drive.
Mr. Masaphi said he wanted to operate the restaurant out of a house that is on the property and to grow all the food onsite. He said he also wanted about 15 RVs and some glamping units.
He noted the house site is already zoned commercial, and "I can do anything I want there."
Mr. Masaphi said, "I don't see that nobody can see me way up here so what's the big deal?"
He said he had occupied his place since before Black Creek was built.
One Black Creek resident on Obar Drive, Ashley Sanchez, said she did not want restaurant patrons looking down in her back yard where her children play.
Gayle Sorensen, who also lives on Obar, said, "I feel like we'd be sitting ducks." She said her husband estimates it is 400 feet up to the top of the hill where Mr. Masaphi has the house.
Julia Whitaker, vice president of operations at Black Creek, said allowing the requests "would be a fundamental change for our master planned development." She cited security and safety concerns as well as noise and lighting. She said, "It's just not compatible. It would put our investments at risk."
The resident manager of the adjacent Raccoon Mountain Campground and Caverns also objected. She said contractors for Mr. Masaphi drive too fast through the campground and there was a run-in with one of his employees who she said has PTSD.
A represenative of Dr. Steve Perlaky, nearby landowner, said he is opposed.
County Commissioner Joe Graham, who said he was raised on the campground when it was owned by his parents, said the requests "don't make sense for many reasons."
He claimed Mr. Masaphi had been involved in harassment in the past. He said, "He's not a good neighbor."
The cases go before the County Commission on May 14.