GENOLA — There's not much to downtown Genola — a one-room town hall, a church, some playground equipment and a couple of fire engines. And that's the way most of the town's 1,200-some residents would like to keep it.

With eager Mountain Shores Development petitioning the Genola Town Council to annex the site of a proposed 243-home subdivision, however, it looks like the 350-house town may be on the brink of a rapid growth spurt.

Only about 25 people attended a public meeting Wednesday in which developers answered residents' questions about the subdivision they plan to build north of the city, but the small turnout isn't an accurate indicator of the community's interest in the issue, said Sandra Thomas Greenwood, who heads a committee organized to fight the annexation.

Residents, concerned the town is not equipped to handle such rapid population growth, "aren't interested in hearing the developer's sales pitch," Greenwood said. She collected 300 signatures on a letter petitioning the mayor to reject the annexation proposal and is making preliminary preparations to overthrow the Town Council's decision with a referendum, should the council vote to approve the subdivision.

Greenwood, like many of her neighbors in Genola, is concerned about the town's lack of a commercial tax base and infrastructure. There are no stores in the agricultural town — not even a gas station. Genola doesn't have a police force or a sewer treatment plant. The town currently relies on a single well for culinary water.

"Genola's not sophisticated enough, large enough or old enough to deal with this kind of growth," Greenwood said. "This little town is not equipped to handle basically doubling our population. We can't absorb the costs."

Ironically, infrastructure is exactly what Jon Heaton, of Mountain Shores Development, said his company plans to contribute to the town. If the annexation is approved, the developers plan to dig another well and build new roads and waterlines.

"We are amazed that the citizens of Genola are not actually jumping on this opportunity," he said.

Some resident complaints about the annexation have nothing to do with infrastructure, however. Many are just concerned about maintaining the agricultural feel of the town.

Toni Carter, 25, moved to Genola for its rustic charm.

"I like small towns. I hate the city," Carter said. "Personally, I just wish they'd leave — just leave Genola alone. Let us be hicks."

But regardless of the Town Council's decision, Mountain Shores Development will build its houses, Heaton said. The subdivision will just become its own city and developers would likely put in houses at a higher density than is allowed under Genola's code.

"The growth is going to happen, whether we do it or somebody else does," Heaton said.

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