An ETSU faculty member has presented a proposal to Johnson City Commission that will save beech trees that may be cut down to make way for a new Walgreen’s drug store on the corner of State of Franklin and West Market Street.
Dr. Joe Corso, assistant professor of political science, presented the proposal last Tuesday night to the commission, which needs to rezone the property to allow for the development.
Tennessee Valley Authority has plans to lease the 8.6 acres of land to Mountain States Health Alliance, which will then allow the land to be developed. Developers intend to place a Walgreens on the property, which is located in the city’s Med Tech Corridor.
The rezoning of the property has generated mixed reviews because the land is home to five beech trees that are believed to be between 300 and 500 years old. There is a grove of four trees and one tree set off by itself.
The property is also considered historically significant because it was once owned by Robert Young, the first permanent resident of Johnson City.
There are a minimum of 20 local drug stores in the area.
Corso presented an alternative to allowing the trees to be cut down. The current zoning laws require development to be 40 feet back from the street. Corso asked the commission to consider a reduction in the setback and parking requirements. He also asked for a legal review of his proposal.
He said that the future of the land lay in the commission’s hands. He also said that the public would know who to thank or blame depending on what happened with the trees.
“We need aggressive leadership on your part,” he said.
Corso showed various site plans to the commission, the first showing the developer’s plans for the property.
“The Walgreens sets directly on top of the grove of trees,” Corso said. “It has to.”
Corso presented two alternative site plans to the commission. One allowed for the grove of trees to be saved, but the large tree by itself to be cut down. The other plan allowed for all five trees to be saved.
Senator Chris Ziegler of the SGA was on hand to present a resolution by the SGA asking the commission to vote against the rezoning in order to save the trees.
However, Ziegler was not allowed to speak, and the issue of rezoning was not discussed. “I came prepared to represent two communities, those of the concerned citizens of Johnson City and those of my constituency as a member of the student legislative association of ETSU,” Ziegler said.
According to Mayor Duffie Jones, that particular issue was not on the agenda. The only thing that could be discussed was the proposal by Corso.
Commissioner Pete Paduch fought for the issue to be discussed and voted against. But his motion to add it to the meeting’s agenda was met with opposition and failed. “All they are doing is censoring me,” Paduch said, “That’s all they ever do.”
However, one other commissioner sided with Paduch. Ricky Mohon disagreed with the rezoning of the property.
“That property has a bigger brighter future than a retail pharmacy,” Mohon said.
Corso’s proposal will be considered by the commission as a possible alternative.
“This does not guarantee anything, but it does give them an additional tool to use in a way that protects the trees,” Corso said.
Roots, an environmentalist group, has been collecting petitions with signatures asking commissioners to decide not to cut down the trees. The group also protested at the site Thursday.
“The involvement of ETSU students has been a real boost to this group,” Corso said.
Chad Reed, former SGA president and member of Roots, attended the commission meeting in support of Corso’s proposal. “One thing I’m really happy for is that students are getting involved with this,” Reed said.
The issue of what to do with the property and the fate of the trees will be discussed at the Nov. 7 commission meeting. Ziegler will read the SGA’s resolution to the commissioners at that time.

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