In reaction to a letter posted on the Internet, ETSU President Paul Stanton has said that he does not support the cutting down of the beech trees at the corner of West Market Street and State of Franklin.
Johnson City Commissioner Pete Paduch posted a letter written by Stanton to the City Commission on Sept. 30 on his personal web site. In the letter, Paduch said that Stanton’s letter seems to support the cutting down of the beech trees and a retail development building of a retail on the site.
“He interpreted it his own way,” Stanton said.
Stanton said Paduch did not contact him concerning the meaning and reasoning behind the letter or how he feels about the issue.
The letter was a follow-up to a letter written by Stanton to the City Commission on June 13. He urged the commission to avoid delays in the rezoning of the area at the corner of the two streets.
However, Stanton does not offer full support of the placement of a Walgreens on the site.
“They have really nice things, but that’s not where they need to be,” he said.
Stanton is not opposed to the development of Walgreens in the community.
“There is no more prominant corner than the corner of State of Franklin,” Stanton said.
He does not feel that it is an appropriate development for the Med-Tech Corridor.
Stanton said that there is a high risk that if the deal with Walgreens falls through, that the TVA will simply sell the land to the highest bidder. If that is the case, it cannot be determined what the property would be used for.
Despite Stanton’s wish that some form of development get under way on the site, he does not support the cutting down of the beech trees that are believed to be between 300-500 years old.
He said that he would like to see an alternative to the cutting down of the trees, such as the concept of changing the zoning laws, as proposed by Dr. Joe Corso, assistant professor of political science, to the City Commission on Oct. 17.
Corso’s proposal was that the commission should consider a reduction in the setback and parking requirements for development. He asked that the minimum amount of 40 feet be reduced in order to save the trees.
Stanton hopes that all alternatives will be considered.
The issue will be discussed Nov. 7 at the Johnson City Commission meeting where SGA Sen. Chris Ziegler will be presenting a resolution on behalf of the student body and SGA, asking the commission not to allow the rezoning and development of the site.

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