NORTH LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Every seat was filled at the North Little Rock Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday.

Many Scott Township residents came together to express their concerns about the proposed rezoning of an area to create an industrial park.

The area being considered for rezoning is located east of the Willow Beach Neighborhood and near Highways 391, 165 and 30.

“From what I understand, we’ve received quite a few calls from citizens who live in this area,” said Norman Clifton, a member of the North Little Rock Planning Commission.

Clifton said many Scott-area residents have called the city concerned that a company wants to bring bitcoin mining to a piece of land near their homes.

The issue of Bitcoin mining was quickly dismissed by the city and the real estate agent for Tyler Investments Inc., the company that wanted to buy the land in the rezoning area.

“I was asked to comment on Bitcoin and mining activities. That was never our intention,” said Brooks McRae, a real estate agent with McKimmey Associates Realtors.

But Scott residents said they still don’t like the idea of ​​an industrial park near their neighborhood.

“The data mining was a real scare, and we’ve heard that’s not going to happen. That’s OK,” said Stephen Hart, president of the Cypress Crossing Homeowners Association. “I’m talking about all this greenery being used for industrial purposes. Why can’t it stay on Highway 70 or Galloway?”

Another resident, Joshua Pevarnik, said the land in the area contributes to the local food supply and supports biodiversity in the city.

“It also provides peaceful green spaces that improve the quality of life for us, our children and our children’s children. Industrial development would destroy our quiet space,” said Joshua Pevarnik. He added: “Industrialization would certainly lead to more noise, traffic, odors and who knows what other pollution, which would negatively impact our collective health, safety and overall well-being.”

A cancer surgeon who is also a landowner and farmer in Scott Township also spoke at the meeting and spoke about the impact she believes an industrial park would have on the health of surrounding residential areas.

“It’s well documented that people who grow up near industrial and industrial parks have worse overall health outcomes than people who don’t. There’s pollution in the form of water, air or soil quality. But there’s also pollution in the form of constant noise and light pollution 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year,” said Dr. Heather Williams.

The Planning Commission has decided to postpone the agenda item until later in September.