Information within is a matter of public record
Battleship Rock on Tablerock Lake Missouri ... what is all the fuss about?
2022/Jan10 - Taney Co PnZ, ReZoning Initial Meeting
Session A - Call to order
Starts at marker 6 min 20 seconds. Case #2122. Talks begin about road compatibility and other topics of Grandview Estates & Lakeview Paradise Estates in Stone County
Full meeting went 1hr 40 min
Session B - Developer continues
"wide enough for 2 cars to pass"; "I didn't do a road study, per se"; " I don't know if we could widen it as a private citizen or developer"; "this is why we invited folks over for cake and coffee"
The committee members are questioning the validity, up front, that the roads are insufficient and not wide enough... This was one of the first topics of the meeting that most of the committee members saw as a major pitfall .
Committee member @ minute 9... making the direct point he knows that section of road and states he sees there being a traffic flow issue and hard to navigate; "it's really out of our jurisdiction being in Stone Co"
Developer - "we really don't have any other access; it's got be there or nothing"... both sides understand that this is a failed endeavor from the start .
"Somebodies got to come along and pony up!" - Developer
"I opposed Johnnie Morris putting in a shooting range near one of my properties"; I understand the complaints from the neighbors... Developer
Session C - Developer vs Committee members, debate continues
Committee member - "Stone County does not maintain that road?" Developer - "Not at this time"
Committee member - "Where I'm going is, I'd need to see some guaranteed road improvements before I could support this"; retort by Developer... "I'd be willing to do whatever to help support your decision"
What we see transpiring in this back and forth exchange is a desperate attempt by the "developer" to say anything ...
Another committee member notes that they would need to expect community push back since Stone Co doesn't maintain the road, but the community does pay private money to maintain the road
Another committee member... this doesn't make sense to me as the current road is ...
Yet another ... "Let's move on and hear what they people that live there have to say about this" (Session D)
Session D - Community opposition speakers
Starts with PnZ committee chair, condescending to the room stating " I would caution you, let's keep it down, we are not stupid, we can understand what it is , we don't have to be told a dozen times, and ... we'll try to make an intelligent decision"
Starts with a resident of Grandview Acres leading off... pointing out all the key opposition points
"During construction, it will be like living on a quarry road!"
It's a good listen... click LISTEN below
Session E - Hank Smythe of Stone Co Commission says he won't take on the road
Grandview Estates community members continue and explain a conversation from Stone Co commissioner Hank Smythe , pledges that Stone Co will NOT help out in any capacity with the road improvements (and that is how it ended up in 2024, after a more than 2 year legal battle in Stone County Missouri ).
"That road is one way in and one way out. Who will maintain those roads? It's literally on the side of a mountain"
"That is why those dozers are in their, fixing wash outs in Lakeview Paradise Estates" from all the rain.
@ 01:38 -- Grandview makes the compelling note that "imagine you own a piece of property, your dream home " and this comes along and threatens it. "I've worked all my life to have this dream retirement home"; if I have to sell, no one is going to want to buy my house will all this traffic going by my house every day
THEN the smart ass Taney Co PnZ committee chair, after some compelling statements, adds ( @min 4:26)... Folks, we get it... the Stone County roads are bad. "We don't need to hear anymore about how bad the roads are. Unless you have something else to add, we don't need to hear about the roads", he says!
(THE TANEY COUNTY PNZ DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR THE ISSUES AND SHUT DOWN THE MOST IMPORTANT VIEWS FROM AREA RESIDENTS ON THE ROAD CONDITIONS AND SAFETY ) Shame on them.
"It's like putting an interstate through a school zone"... Tom Shiflett (@min 12:30) . "It's got to be the right place at the right time... please, please don't recommend this "
@13:48 near the final part of this audio file, Developer gets back to the mic and says "well, this was a bad day to give up drinking" ; " Never in my life has my integrity been questioned and I won't let it be questioned tonight "
Developer explicitly is ANGRY and lashing out in his final part of this audio file and is effectively blaming the community for dangerous roads
Session F - angry and lashing out; "I'm the Expert!"
This audio continues with lashing out and how HE is the expert!
Taney Co PnZ chair.. @ min 0130, "anyone want to make a motion?"
Responses from other committee members... "I need to see more on the road" I need to see a bone fide no kidding plan to see this this and this... I can't support it; that's where I'm at.
Developer, states at minute marker 04:45 ... THIS IS MY FIRST ATTEMPT AT A DEVELOPMENT LIKE THIS
at minute marker 05:26... "if we are going to have to be responsible for the entirety of the road improvements with no help from the neighborhoods and we have to reduce density of the homes, umm, it may not become viable." (with a verbal nod of agreement to this statement from the committee chair). "I understand the careful balance between quiet enjoyment and a persons right to do what they want to do with the property; it's just a matter of economics."
Gets to a point at the end of this session where there is a back and forth and many committee members do question the validity of this project and especially the density of 60+ homes.
APPLICATION MOVED TO POSTPONEMENT TO MEETING NEXT MONTH , FEB 14, 2022. This gave Developer, who was not prepared at this meeting, to regroup and come back
2022/Feb 14 - Taney Co PnZ, "Mulligan"
Session A - Call to order / Developer has a redo
This is the follow up PnZ meeting, second attempt at explaining, given to Developer, after he was unsuccessful in making his initial case and not getting good feed back from more than a majority of committee members.
Meeting starts at marker 03:11. Committee postponed Jan meeting "to allow the representative to gather more information..." - as stated @ 03:29 marker.
At 05:00 the committee speaker makes clear that the monkey is not on their back. He states "I want to be clear that what we are doing today is not to approve or deny the application as presented, but to approve or deny that it goes before the commission for review". "Its only a recommendation, for or against".
Mulligan shot @ 05:29 marker.
" We got down there with a drone to help everybody better visualize "
"Stone County does not maintain any portion of that road"
Trying to get the neighbors to pay for the road and share costs
***After Developer finishes speaking, @13:00 , the committee person directing the flow of the meeting states that they reached out to both Taney County attorney and Stone County PnZ, "we have no authority, zero, in reference to what is being discussed about the road"
"Our decision will be purely placed on the parcel of property located within Taney County"
So, Taney Co PnZ Committee chair effectively removes any further discussion about the road, yet again, making it clear they are just going to be recommending moving this on to recommendation for the Commissioners regarding the parcel sizes for his development. Pontius Pilate would be envious !
Session B - Developer(s) continue to speak
The other partner Developer speaks now. He says "ain't" a lot in his presentation. Just an observation.
He references the old/ sold White River BnB off Taney County Rd / Stone Co Rd called Ozark Hollow Rd, a public county road that does not go through any subdivisions inside of Stone County.
He is putting forth misleading / disinformation to the committee that White River (now called Glass Haus Weddings) is accessed through subdivisions; that is the implication of his monologue before the committee.
It's absolutely false, but he's trying to say "we'll , this is already being or has been done before". Total gaslighting.
He refers to "resorts" that you have to drive through properties to get to on Ozark Hollow Rd (interestingly enough the road was originally named Happy Hollow Resort Rd, go figure.
Well, he is talking about Happy Hollow Resort, having been there since the lake was started in the 1950s. Williams landing was developed after this and thus you have him correctly noting, if you want to go to Happy Hollow Resort (a grandfathered resort) you must drive through a subdivision to get there.
Attorney for the developer(s) speaks @ 0350 .
Opposition speakers begins @ 05:40 .
Discussion of difference between "arterial roads" vs. "collector roads"
Grandview resident states, "Mark Ferguson, a well known expert in housing values states that you can expect a 20% DECREASE in property values of your house when [ you go from a quiet street to a busy road ]"
Continues over to Session C, D and E
Session C - Opposition views continue
Grandview counsel speaks @07:25; stating that Stone County Commission stated to him that the parties involved "may need to have a law suit"... very foretelling as a suit did ensue in mid July 2022.
Session D - Offends the Galley of 100s of residents !
@09:00, Developer erroneously continues with line of falsehoods stating, like he knows, that there are neighbors that have "built a road to more plats to develop into 5 or 6 more vacation homes". As of Fall 2024, this has never occurred as evidenced by no VRBO/ AirBnB listings, nor can it or will it be the case, as it would be illegal since Stone County Commission passed an Amendment to halt any more vacation rentals as of August 2022.
The Developer seems to be coming unhinged and monologuing towards the end...
@ 10min (10:00) "we are not putting high rise condos or dancing girls... just homes...and nice ones... nicer than anyone has seen out there". (the hundreds in attendance openly BOO and harrumph loudly )
... "I didn't mean to offend... I realize that was in poor taste"
Session E - Continues and then the vote to recommend, passes narrowly
@ 00:23; Developer continues to discuss with committee and states in response to a person in attendance regarding his up hill battle about the road ; "sounds like there is going to be quite a lot of opposition"
@08:40; committee member PnZ seems to be reiterating, yet again (we are just following the guidelines)
@10:50; "He deserves an answer, pitch forks aside..."
@11:00; Motion made to recommend moving them to next phase for 3 county commissioners to decide; passes 5/4 .
2022/Feb 22 - Taney Co Commission ReZone
Session J - Call to order / Commission ReZoning starts
Session J starts the beginning of a very interesting commission rezoning meeting. It's a nail biter right up to the end of Session Q.
Session Q-
Motion carries 2/1 to rezone . Sheila Wyatt, District 2 commissioner, was the only dissenting vote of the three commissioners. Even the Taney County Fire Chief was not in favor. And he was quoted in the Springfield News Leader reiterating as much, over 2 years later.