Friday, March 9, 2012

Local Doctor Warns Against Antioch Asphalt Plant

News Channel 5
Posted: Mar 07, 2012 10:13 PM CST
Updated: Mar 07, 2012 10:19 PM CST

By Heather Graf

ANTIOCH, Tenn. -- A group of Antioch residents fighting to keep an asphalt plant out of their neighborhood get some bad news from Metro Council, and even worse news from a local doctor.

The zoning change that would clear the way for an asphalt plant to be built on Franklin Limestone Road passed its second reading Tuesday night at Metro Council.

That 22-15 vote came despite requests from nearly two dozen residents, urging council members to vote no.

"It's unsafe, it's not a good fit, it's unhealthy," said Grace Ann Bendele, who is one of the Homeowners Association Presidents in that area of Antioch. "Lives are at stake, children's lives."

Local pediatrician Olayinka Onadeko echoed those concerns when he addressed council on Tuesday.

"When you put your child near an asphalt plant, it doesn't make sense!" he said. "These children will continue having wheezing, shortness of breath, irritation of the nose, they will be sneezing. I've lived there. "

He told council members he's lived in the Antioch area for 19 years, and has been practicing pediatrics for 22 years.

"I called the councilman and said this is a bad idea," he said at the meeting. "The fumes are very dangerous to children."

Worried neighbors say that's all the evidence they need, this facility doesn't belong anywhere near their homes.

"Well it is scary," said Bendele. "I have asthma, my daughter has asthma really bad. I've been at the hospital many times."

Neighbors say Tuesday's vote will not deter them in their fight to stop the project.

"We're going to continue our petition drive," said resident Karen Kelley. "You do not have to be in our district to do any of these things. This is a Nashville issue. If they push us around, they can push anyone around."

Councilman Duane Dominy represents the district where the plant would be built. Tuesday night, he was one of 22 council members to vote in favor of this proposal.

Dominy did not want to do an on-camera interview on Wednesday, but told us his "yes" vote means he's committed to the process, but not necessarily the project.

Since this is a zoning ordinance, he wants people to know it can be amended on the third reading, and for that reason, he says it's far from a done deal.

Dominy told News Channel 5 that an environmental impact study will be done before that third reading happens, in April. He also says he plans to visit a similar, currently operational plant himself, to see and smell how nearby neighborhoods are affected.

To learn more about neighbors' concerns or sign the online petition, click here: http://www.facebook.com/STOPTHEPLANT.


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