OLIVE BRANCH, MS -
(WMC-TV) - A North Mississippi movie theater has to go to plan B after being voted down Wednesday night. But its new plan could face many of the same problems the original one did.
The Olive Branch Board of Aldermen voted against a plan to build a new movie theater after much opposition by residents who live near the originally proposed site at Goodman Road and Pleasant Hill Road.
Now, the controversy could continue when it comes to the alternative site, which is just one mile away.
"It's just down a hill from a traffic signal and there are concerns that trucks or cars may come over the hill and someone pulls out and you end up with a real danger with traffic," said Olive Branch Mayor Sam Rikard.
Mayor Sam Rikard says the developer of the proposed Pooja Cinemas has the option of looking at a previously approved site at Goodman Road and Malone Road. It has been tabled until March. The alternative site was approved years ago to allow the city at some point to zone it as a theater but first, it must go through a public hearing.
"We have public hearings on c-4 planning and site plan approvals so we'll hear from everyone regarding their concerns again with that site," said the mayor.
While some residents posed questions about a movie theater causing traffic backups along Goodman Road, Boswell says as long as it does not spill over to his neighborhood, he'd be OK with a theater near his backyard.
As of Tuesday's meeting, he had 10 days to appeal the Board of Aldermen's decision to the courts.
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