Gas station proposal stirs controversy in Walker County community
The rendering of the proposed gas station at the intersection of Highways 151 and 136 in Naomi. (From: Walker County Commission)
NAOMI, Ga. (WDEF)- New gas stations seem to pop up frequently across the Tennessee Valley.
However, one proposal in Walker County is causing a stir in a small community.
Naomi is a small community just east of Lafayette.
The main intersection in town is where Highways 136 and 151 meet.
The owners of a property there want to sell to a developer who wants to build a gas station.
However, a nearby church and school are voicing concerns about what that could mean for them.
The proposed gas station at the corner of Highways 136 and 151 would be located near Naomi Baptist Church and Naomi Elementary School.
Representatives from the church and school say they’re concerned about potential traffic and safety issues with alcohol being sold.
Resident Doug Haywood said, “The intersection is very deadly and with the church, the school, even us on 151, It could be very difficult to get turned around there because sometimes the trucks that come off the hill on 151 going south… they don’t pay attention to people there.”
Naomi Elementary School principal Kristi Chrissie said, “Schools are intentionally placed away from high intensity, commercial activity for a reason. They are meant to be protected spaces surrounded by environments that reinforce safety, stability and care.”
However, the daughter of the seller of the property, Muffet Brown, defended the proposed gas station, saying that other schools in the county are already near other stations.
Brown said, “Rossville Elementary has a gas station that is less than 1 mile from their school. Stone Creek Elementary has a gas station less than 0.8 miles from their school. Why let other schools have gas stations near them and not Naomi?
She says that state regulations would limit alcohol issues, and that the developer is willing to put a wide buffer between the gas station and school.
She also argued that it would provide needed jobs for Naomi, and it is within the right of her family to sell their property for this purpose.
Brown said, “If anybody in Walker County says if they have kids if somebody wants to come by and put a gas station there, there would not be anybody that would be complaining that would benefit their family.”
Other residents did not agree.
Chrissie said, “Think about our students during dismissal, when their energy is high because they’re excited about going home, but their attention is low because they have focused all day. I think about recess when the children are running and laughing and focused on being kids, and that if we’re are next to a truckstop, it only takes one moment, one mistake, for a situation to become tragic.”
The case was deferred for up to 60 days and will be dealt with at the March or April Walker County Commission meeting.
The Walker County Planning Commission previously recommended that the proposal be denied.
