Residents speak out against Airport Road annexation request, council approves interim community development director

PERRY — A proposed townhouse development has returned to the council chambers, and residents are continuing to voice concerns. 

This was the first reading, meaning no action has been taken.

The applicant, Matt Widner with Widner and Associates, is making another effort, this time, with a concept in mind. 

In June 2025, city council denied the annexation request in a 3-2 vote.

The request is to annex and rezone 19.7 acres from residential agricultural to townhouse residential. According to Interim Director of Community Development Holly Wharton, the development would include 105 townhouse units. 

She mentioned a limited sewer capacity, but the city is always studying to determine if accommodation is available. According to Wharton, there is adequate sewer capacity to accommodate the development. 

Widner spoke during the public hearing, saying developers had no plans. What was previously a hypothetical set of numbers is a plan for what they want to develop on the parcel. 

Wharton added that this decision is only relevant to the land-use and annexation of the property. She clarified that future development plans will have to come to the Department of Community Development for review. 

Similar to last year, multiple nearby residents spoke against the development. Most are seniors living in Houston Springs. 

Many noted that it would cause additional traffic concerns and noise. They also do not like the idea of townhomes being close to their neighborhood. Multiple residents urged the council to think about the senior community before making a decision. 

A resident, Lorraine Perrino, said she likes the idea of the proposed development and a park being added to the area, but she is worried about the impacts. 

“There are times where we have very low water pressure. It would be a traffic nightmare,” she said.

Another resident, George Falldine, had been expressing his concern since the development was first proposed last year.

He advised Mayor Randall Walker and council to think about the economic impact on the senior community and consider unknown information about the proposed development. Falldine said the roads in Houston Springs are privately owned, meaning the residents have to be responsible for their care.

“I am raising again for you to really seriously consider the economic impact on a 55 plus community if we’re not able to fully develop what is left of our community to be able to pay for what we are going to have to cover in the future,” he said. 

A resident who had been vocal since the beginning, Clay Nodes, echoed previous statements by his neighbors, mentioning an excessive amount of development.

“This is our neighborhood. Townhouses don’t belong in our neighborhood,” he said, 

He urged the mayor and council to revisit the land use map, preserve their quality of life, and not to crowd them out.

Mayor and council will make their decision at a future council meeting. 

Council appoints Interim Community Development Director

Later in the meeting, mayor and council approved Economic Development Director Holly Wharton to serve as Interim Community Development Director. 

According to council documents, the previous Community Development Director, Joe Duffy, resigned on April 29. 

Wharton will serve dual roles until the council appoints a new director. 

Mayor and Council will hold their pre-council meeting at 5 p.m. and the regular council meeting at 6 p.m. on May 19. Everyone is invited to attend, and the agenda is available here. Both meetings are also livestreamed on YouTube.