By Jacque Day
Paducah, KY – A controversial zoning change request drew 200 people last night to a meeting of the McCracken County Planning Commission. Southern Coal Handling has petitioned to rezone portions of Carneal, Heady and Metropolis Landing roads from Rural Residential to Heavy Industrial. The company has its eye on the area for a prospective coal terminal and coal-to-liquid facility. Teresa Cash lives with her family across the street from the proposed site. Her nine-year-old suffers from asthma.
"It is a very scary situation as a parent to have your child scream in the middle of the night that he can't breathe. So for the coal terminal to come, my son would be isolated to the inside of the house."
Mark Whitlow, attorney for petitioner Southern Coal Handling, says the project could mean a billion-dollar investment for the coal-to-liquid facility, and 20-million for the coal terminal.
"I would like to see us have some real economic growth, and we need some manufacturing jobs. I'm all for the service industry and service jobs, but the wages are so low, and these projects will be good for the county."
After the three-hour meeting, the commission tabled the decision for further review. They meet on the matter again next Wednesday.