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Alcoa City Commission approved on first reading an ordinance to rezone land for a controversial apartment complex Tuesday night.

Area residents again voiced objections to rezoning a 10-acre tract on East Old Topside Road and Topside Road to Residence District B to allow a 108-unit apartment complex.

The commission earlier approved annexing the property, which was then zoned County Suburbanizing.

Mitch Taylor, a Conger Road resident, said the complex will put an estimated 300 children in Alcoa schools, based on the experience of the nearby Meadowland Apartments.

He said there will be no sidewalks except in front of the complex on a "dangerous" two-lane public road.

Taylor pointed out that the County Suburbanizing Zone would not have allowed as dense a development.

Residence District B is out of character for the single-family residential community, he said.

Pat Scofield, who lives on East Old Topside Road, said her family moved to the area eight years ago to be close to the water and live in a rural environment.

"This is a very dangerous section of road now," she said, adding that the apartment complex traffic would make the situation worse.

Kenny Rudd, who has lived on Conger Road since 1985, said "where Conger comes on East Old Topside there is a blind curve. It's extremely dangerous. The issue of safety is something that is very important to me."

Rudd complained about the credibility of the developer, saying when Stacy Arp purchased the property he told the owners he would be building condominiums.

He asked that the commission not be afraid of being sued by Arp.

"You guys are responsible for us, even if we can't vote for you," he told the commission. The residents around the planned complex are county residents, not Alcoa voters.

The commission unanimously approved on first reading zoning the tract Residence District B. Second and final vote is expected at the September meeting.

The commission also approved a resolution creating a joint Blount County, Alcoa and Maryville industrial board.

"Blount County Industrial Board is a Blount County creature. For years and years the city has worked all projects through Blount Industrial Board. The board itself recommended forming a joint board," said Alcoa City Manager Mark Johnson.

All three mayors -- Alcoa Mayor Don Mull, Maryville Mayor Joe Swann and Blount County Mayor Jerry Cunningham, or their representatives -- would all have votes on the board instead of filling a non-voting ex-officio position. The cities would also have to agree to new appointments to the commission when vacancies arise.

Maryville has already approved the change and Blount County Commission will now consider the recommendation.