A group of neighbors spoke against the plan, and dozens submitted statements against the rezoning directly to the planning board or through the Bissonet Civic Association.
“Rezoning this property will only reduce the appearance and property values of this neighborhood,” said George McLean, speaking as a board member of the civic group.
Fran King, who tracks zoning issues for the Bissonet association, said the spread of commercial operations would mar recent work to beautify Kawanee with new sidewalks and trees.
“It would be like a tumbleweed effect; one house would go, then another house would go,” King said after the planning meeting. “It would be David Drive on Kawanee. David Drive is really tacky.”
King said she feared the specter of a tattoo shop, massage parlor or bar opening on the corner.