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Planning and Zoning Meeting <br /> April 5, 2004 <br /> Page 3 <br /> <br />calls for this. He said that at some point West Paris has got to have <br />some businesses and jobs in that area. This area has not attracted retail <br />development for that reason, retail wants to be where retail is. It will <br />help assist the development of the West Paris area. Mr. Bell highly <br />encourage the Commission to consider a favorable vote for the zoning <br />being requested which is Planned Developed which does allow and ask <br />for Ms. Gates to come back and show what she is planning to do there <br />and the Commission must approve it, if the fencing and lighting does <br />not meet the requirements, at that time the Commission can require <br />that those things be put in. Mr. Bell feels that this a wonderful <br />Opportunity for West Paris. <br /> <br />'Cindy Gates, CR 33500, House 30, Sumner, Texas, spoke in favor of the <br />petition stating that she has lived in Paris all of her life. Her mom has <br />worked at Kimberly-Clark for 15 years and her dad served in Vietnam <br />and died as a result of service related agent orange. Her family has <br />always supported Paris even though they don't live in Paris. The truck <br />stop would be bringing in a little over $40,000 a year in taxes opposed <br />to $300 a year that it is bringing right now. All she is asking is for a <br />chance to make a living for her family. Ms. Gates does not want <br />anything that is going to cause damage, she wants to run a respectful <br />business. There is a prejudice against the way people see truck stops <br />and there are places that have that kind of reputation and have those <br />problems but it is due to bad management, people that do not care <br />care about my reputation. Ms. Gates wants to be an asset to the <br />community and wants to help Paris grow. Ms. Gates feels that the truck <br />stop will help to bring four lanes into Paris. Trucks are important to <br />industries here in town. Paris is and industrial town and there is no <br />facility to take care of truck drivers. They need a facility here in town <br />where they will not be run off because they are on private property <br />trying to sleep. They need a place to go and relax for a little while. <br />Truck driving is a very hard profession and a very dangerous one.' <br />Truck drivers are people just like the rest of us. Over the years, Ms. <br />Gates have lost friends from wrecks. She is willing to do whatever is <br />needed to make it where people in the area will be more comfortable. <br />Ms. Gates do not mind bringing in a plan before the Commission for <br />them to decide whether or not it will be beneficial or not. <br /> <br /> <br />