LEBANON, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Lebanon mayor said the city is overwhelmed with too many warehouses, so a new industrial zoning code would have limited the number of warehouses built there. However, after hearing from numerous people who opposed the change, the majority of the city council sided with them Tuesday night.

“Lebanon's experienced extraordinary growth,” one constituent said during the Lebanon City Council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

It’s a headline we continue to hear out of Wilson County.

Local officials are trying to balance growth in Lebanon with zoning code changes. However, one code in question centers around industrial properties building warehouses.

"We have 29 spec warehouses that cover 1,075 acres. That can be over 10 million square feet. That's a lot," Lebanon Mayor Rick Bell said.

The city council heard from about two dozen people Tuesday night who said a new industrial zoning code restricting warehouses would impact their livelihoods.

“I’ll take a warehouse any day over an apartment complex or a bunch of crazy neighbors that's moved in here that ain't got enough sense to go home,” another constituent said at the meeting.

During the public comment period, most people who spoke opposed the zoning change for industrial properties and asked that it stay the same.   

“By keeping the current zoning, you are helping ensure that Lebanon remains a place where companies can continue to invest, grow, and create jobs without added red tape,” another constituent told the city council. 

Some city leaders were willing to negotiate, saying they'd grandfather in existing properties. According to Bell, the intent of the new zoning change would impact future development. However, that amendment failed.  

“Some of the people that I've heard from asked me why we have so many warehouses,” a member of the Lebanon City Council said.  

A motion was made to keep the current industrial zoning code as is. Bell told News 2 over the phone that those city council members are choosing developers over the positive interest of Lebanon.

“I do not believe the City of Lebanon being a giant distribution center is positive. I just don’t, and I’m never going to apologize for that,” Bell said during the meeting.

The amended ordinance will now go through a second reading at the next city council meeting.  

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/some-city-leaders-try-to-limit-warehouses-in-lebanon/