Kroger is closer to locating in the Cassville area after the Bartow Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend the commercial rezoning to the county commissioner. Richard Fox was the sole vote against the proposal.
His reasoning for opposing the plan was traffic and infrastructure.
“You come down Fire Tower Road, it’s a nightmare,” Fox said during board discussions.
The board hearing room at the Frank Moore Administration Building was packed with people opposing that issue and other rezoning requests on the agenda. The board moved the Kroger proposal to the end because of the expected opposition.
More than 10 people spoke on the proposed rezoning of a little more than 27 acres at the corner of Fire Tower Road and Joe Frank Harris Parkway. Speakers included engineers and those representing landowners and those opposing. The commission voted to extend the traditional 30 minutes per side to allow all opposing the rezoning to speak.
While the rezoning request was to change the designation from agricultural to commercial marketplace, the property was already approved for commercial use in 2021. The board approved a recommendation then with conditions at the request of landowners, who are CO Bartow LLC. However, there wasn’t a specific project planned then. Now that Kroger wants to build, the issue went back before the board with a new proposal that had self-imposed conditions and removal of some previous conditions.
The board passed the measure with conditions. The primary condition is to include infrastructure improvements to Fire Tower Road in the preliminary and ongoing construction.
Residents opposed the Kroger plan to build a 90,000-plus square-foot store, stating it presented infrastructure, traffic, and logistical problems for residents.
“This definitely is not needed and not wanted for people who call this area home,” Jeff Shinnall said. “Our community, the Cassville community, is not there for developers to pillage us.”
Others said concerns are raised about how emergency police, fire, and ambulance would have access to homes behind the store because it is challenging now. An engineer said there would be access.
Sandra Fox, who lives on Pettit Circle, was troubled about her neighborhood being landlocked by the development. The street would be accessed through the parking lot, according to current designs. Questions were also raised about mail and package delivery.
Kroger officials said they would arrange for a package pick-up spot at the front of the circle.
Dr. David McKalip told board members many infrastructure improvements were needed before any construction begins.
“There should be conditions on infrastructure improvements to be paid by Kroger,” he said. McKalip said the project wasn’t consistent with the community.
An independent grocery store owner also spoke out saying a large corporate store with multiple gas pumps could affect his business he started after he came to Bartow County in 1993.
Gas pumps were part of the discussion with the board. One of the previous conditions limited them to six, but Kroger wants seven. That condition was dropped in the final recommendation.
Bartow County Commissioner Steve Taylor will have the final decision. He will hold a public meeting during his regular meeting scheduled for Oct. 14 at 10 a.m. in the commissioner’s hearing room at the courthouse.
Melody Dareing is a freelance writer for publications in the U.S, Canada, the UK and Germany. She is a former news director of Adelphia Channel 4 and WBHF Radio. She is on Facebook, X, YouTube, content on Substack, and has a podcast on Rumble.