by Chris Cannon
BELLEVUE, Tenn. - Many residents who live off of Charlotte Pike in Bellevue are ready to put up a fight against a proposed construction and demolition landfill and a Metro Nashville recycling center.
The proposed landfill would go on a piece of property just west of the Thousand Oaks Estates on a section of Charlotte Pike that sits in between two curves.
"Our biggest concern is that traffic issue because it's already dangerous on 70 as it is. And being on a hill like it is, it could absolutely get somebody killed," said resident Del Knight.
The property owner wants to start accepting construction and demolition material and recycle most of it.
According to many people a portion of that land has been approved for use as a landfill for three decades.
The property was rezoned from residential to agricultural more than a year ago. Now the owner only needs a variance to expand the landfill's footprint on the property.
Residents said they checked with Metro at the time the property's rezoning was up for discussion.
"We all called. They said it's really nothing, it's just for tax purposes," according to resident Angela Bonovich.
Council member Sheri Weiner was not in office when the full council approved the rezoning of the property. She said at this point her hands are tied.
"There's nothing I can do, there's nothing I can do other than let the agencies know of the opposition, which is what I've done. I've also done substantial research for them," Weiner said.
The Metro Board of Zoning Appeals will consider the variance to allow the landfill at its June 21st meeting.
Monday night residents held an organization meeting to plan out their argument against the proposed landfill.
"We had to have some legal reasons and that's what we've been working toward," Dave Green told the crowd of more than 60 people who met at the Nashville Christian School.
Concerned property owners learned the Harpeth River may be their biggest ally in their fight against the landfill.
Opponents say the land falls within an area governed by the Tennessee scenic rivers act.
"Because the Harpeth is state scenic river in Davidson County is you can't have a landfill anywhere in Davidson or Williamson County within two miles of the Harpeth," explained Dorene Bolze from the Harpeth Watershed Association.
"And this falls within the two mile radius," a reporter asked Bolze.
"It does, it does," she claimed.
Organizers plan to meet with an attorney on Tuesday to get guidance on their legal option in opposing the landfill.
The Board of Zoning Appeals is a technical meeting, and most agree, technically the landfill is an approved use for that land.
It is at a public hearing with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation where the residents hope the Scenic Rivers Act will stop the landfill from opening.
email: ccannon@newschannel5.com
