Retired Mount Airy veterinarian Emmett Full, and the company in which he has an interest, Buffalo Road Investment LLC, applied to have the roughly 8.3-acre property on Buffalo Road known as the Rigler Property annexed and zoned low-density residential.

Full raised the possibility of putting in a sports complex on the property near the Summitt Ridge community to serve the area.

At a public hearing in September, Full said if the annexation was denied, he would not move forward with plans for a sports complex.

On Monday, though, he said it was too early to make a decision about his plans for the property.

Council members debated for more than an hour as supporters and opponents crowded the town hall meeting.

Councilman Peter Helt said he thinks the issue boiled down to whether the council should consider only the annexation proposal, or whether plans for the property's eventual use should be taken into account.

In May, the town planning commission recommended the council deny approving the annexation.

According to town officials, the planning commission thought the project with the proposed sports complex did not have sufficient water and was too large for the surrounding community. Commission members also thought it could lead to large traffic increases in the neighborhood.

Councilman Chris Everich said the sports complex project was an excellent one, but sided with the decision of the planning commission and with many Summit Ridge residents who expressed their opposition to the annexation and plans for the complex. He said he thinks there are better alternative locations for the sports complex that are already zoned for commercial uses.

Councilwoman Wendi Peters, who was the sole vote opposing a motion to deny annexation, said she thinks a majority of residents supported annexation and plans for a sports complex.

She said the town council has been sending mixed messages to the business community and residents who would like to see such projects move forward.

Councilman Gary Nelson said some of the divisive comments from residents about the annexation came close to intimidation.

He said one of the problems with the annexation was the council didn't know for certain what would happen to the land. If plans for the sports complex were to be scuttled, then putting in more homes presented other obstacles, such as a lack of water and other resources.

Speaking to Full, Nelson said, "If you made an investment on your own and it's not turning out as prosperous as you would have liked it, well, I'm sorry."

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