Reasons we oppose the Pinewood Surf Club
The Piney River is beautiful and the land surrounding it is as well. These out-of-state developers with no regard to preservation or the adverse impacts this would have on our river need to go back to where they came from.
Protect the Piney and Protect Hickman County
Friends of the Piney River is a volunteer group of concerned citizens and landowners along the Piney River who are opposed to the Pinewood Surf Club coming to Hickman County.
Environmental and Residential Concerns
- Besides the obvious negative impact to the river and its watershed, the Pinewood Surf Club is a bad idea. The mysterious unknowns make it even worse.
- During the 2021 flood, the public roads to the site were totally inaccessible by EMS vehicles. When it floods again, the individuals on site would not have access to emergency medical services.
- The developers claim they will raise the level of the developed property out of the flood plain. Even if this were possible, it would negatively affect flooding along the river – both upstream and downstream.
- The idea of a 5-acre concrete wave pool perched inside a flood plain churning waves large enough to ocean surf is ludicrous on its face.
- The developers claim they will be good stewards of the land, but they have proven otherwise. They have undertaken improper land-clearing activity on the banks of Piney River, and they have been ordered by the Tennessee Department of Conservation and Environment to cease such activity.
- The county has approved the lavish amenities as private amenities that would be for members (and guests of members) only. However, the developers communicated that homes could be operated as short-term rentals like Airbnb, VRBO, etc. as a way to appear private without operating as such.
Developer and Member Concerns
- The developers behind this project are hidden behind a web of companies based in south Florida. Information has not been provided about the source of initial funding for this development or the developers’ track record.
- This is a private, members-only club selling “founder” privileges for $750,000 each before any construction starts. They say work will start once 40 or so “founders” have purchased.
- You will only be able to access the resort if you purchase a lot, get invited by a member or rent a multimillion-dollar home.
Growth Concerns
- We all are for smart growth and development as well as bringing quality jobs and economic growth to Hickman County. But this is not smart growth. This project is contrary to the goal of maintaining the rural character of portions of the county that lie outside city limits.
- Hickman County has no urban growth plan to deal with such development. Consideration of this project should be shelved until the county has adopted an orderly plan for growth. It needs one, and the corporate limits of Centerville are the logical place to start.
- The logical next area would be the growth corridors along U.S. Highways 100 and 50 going eastward, and Interstate 840.
- It would set a horrible precedent. What would be next? Totty’s Bend? Swan Creek Valley? Lowe’s Bend.
