Dixie residents continue to seek measures to put a halt to a proposed Love’s Travel Stop at the corner of Elks Lake and Ira Hudson roads, with several members of the Homestead Ridge Community showing up to a third consecutive meeting of the Forrest County Board of Supervisors on June 19 to oppose the measure.
That group was represented at the meeting by Hattiesburg attorney Michael Adelman, who asked board members to “dig deep” to find a way to prevent the truck stop from locating there. Because there are no zoning stipulations in the county – which gives residents and businesses free enterprise over their property – Adelman suggested passing an ordinance against that particular kind of business in the community.
“That would take into consideration the nature of the different communities, like Dixie, and maybe be able to control it that way,” Adelman said. “I think the place to put it in Forrest County is somewhere close to the roads, but away from residences, and those areas exist.
“Once you get drive down (U.S) 49, there’s a lot of areas that aren’t highly residential. The only reason (Love’s officials) want it (in Dixie) is because of the confluence of the highways.”
Dixie residents also addressed their concerns at the previous two board meetings, where issues such as crime, drug use and other safety concerns were discussed. Shortly after, a Facebook page called “No Love for Love’s in Dixie” was created, which currently features 93 members.
For a few weeks, supervisors were unsure whether the truck stop was indeed locating to the area, but the parcel of land has since been sold to Holliday Construction of Poplarville for construction of the site.
“Dixie is one of the oldest communities outside of Hattiesburg, and it’s centered around (Dixie Attendance Center),” Adelman said. “Contrary to statements that we’ve heard from Love’s, we believe that the construction of a truck stop … would essentially destroy the essence of Dixie.
“The community has always thrived on being a safe, healthy community. We all know there’s a drug crisis in the United States, and we all know the preferred method of transporting drugs across the border from Mexico – and throughout the United States – is trucking.”
One Dixie resident suggested that the county could deny the widening of Ira Hudson Road, which may be necessary to facilitate 18-wheeler traffic to the truck stop.
“There may be an opportunity for this board to make a decision on whether or not that is a sustainable entrance and exit for those trucks there on Ira Hudson Road,” said David Hogan, president of the Forrest County Board of Supervisors. “So there may be an opportunity there for this board to weigh in.
“But besides that, as the law stands right now with Forrest County, we do not have zoning in the county.”
District 5 Supervisor Chris Bowen said he did not believe county-wide zoning would meet with approval from other residents.
“Until we’re petitioned to put county-wide zoning on the ballot – which I’m convinced the vast majority of my constituents who live outside the municipalities don’t want – I’ll continue to support each individual’s right to have dominion over their own property,” he said.
District 4 Supervisor Rod Woullard told Dixie residents they should think hard before requesting such a measure, as it could come with unwanted consequences.
“I hope everybody in here understands exactly what you’re asking for,” he said. “Once the zoning and the ordinances start, every time you want to do something that you’re not zoned for, you’re going to have to come back before this board (for permission).
“Right now, you have the right to do what you want to do with your land, however you want to do it. But once you get the county involved, it doesn’t go away; it usually just keeps perpetuating.”
According to the Love’s Travel Stop website, the business was founded in 1964 and headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It owns more than 600 locations in 42 states, with more than 38,000 employees throughout the company.
“I can’t say I blame (the residents for not wanting the truck stop), and that’s why I live inside the city limits, where there are those protections,” Bowen said.
