03&04 Gates Zoning Request - Laserfiche WebLink

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Planning and Zoning Meeting April5,2004 Page 3 calls for this. He said that at some point West Paris has got to have some businesses and jobs in that area. This area has not attracted retail development for that reason, retail wants to be where retail is. It will help assist the development of the West Paris area. Mr. Bell highly encourage the Commission to consider a favorable vote for the zoning being requested which is Planned Developed which does allow and ask for Ms. Gates to come back and show what she is planning to do there and the Commission must approve it, if the fencing and lighting does not meet the requirements, at that time the Commission can require that those things be put in. Mr. Bell feels that this a wonderful opportunity for West Paris. Cindy Gates, CR 33500, House 30, Sumner, Texas, spoke in favor of the petition stating that she has lived in Paris all of her life. Her mom has worked at Kimberly-Clark for 15 years and her dad served in Vietnam and died as a result of service related agent orange. Her family has always supported Paris even though they don't live in Paris. The truck stop would be bringing in a little over $40,000 a year in taxes opposed to $300 a year that it is bringing right now. All she is asking is for a chance to make a living for her family. Ms. Gates does not want anything that is going to cause damage, she wants to run a respectful business. There is a prejudice against the way people see truck stops and there are places that have that kind of reputation and have those problems but it is due to bad management, people that do not care--I care about my reputation. Ms. Gates wants to be an asset to the community and wants to help Paris grow. Ms. Gates feels that the truck stop will help to bring four lanes into Paris. Trucks are important to industries here in town. Paris is and industrial town and there is no facility to take care of truck drivers. They need a facility here in town where they will not be run off because they are on private property trying to sleep. They need a place to go and relax for a little while. Truck driving is a very hard profession and a very dangerous one. Truck drivers are people just like the rest of us. Over the years, Ms. Gates have lost friends from wrecks. She is willing to do whatever is needed to make it where people in the area will be more comfortable. Ms. Gates do not mind bringing in a plan before the Commission for them to decide whether or not it will be beneficial or not.