LONG CREEK - Residents opposed to a halfway house spoke loudly and with great emotion at a meeting Saturday morning.

Long Creek Village trustees responded by vowing to deny a rezoning request at their next meeting, which would effectively kill the project.

About 100 residents, packed into a large new building owned by businessman David Holt, said they believe the halfway house could threaten their security and lower property values.

The proposed halfway house, to be at four and-a-half acres at 5685 East U.S. 36, was to house 15 to 30 unemployed men, including former convicts and drug addicts.

"We're raising families and we have an area we want to feel safe and secure in," a resident said at the meeting, sparking enthusiastic applause.

Mayor Mike Bruce presided over the meeting, with Holt at his side. He asked for questions that would allow Holt to explain his plan, but the residents mostly responded with a long string of objections.

One woman, an Illinois Department of Corrections employee, said she believed there would be inadequate supervision of the convicted felons.

When Bruce asked how many of the people attending the meeting opposed rezoning the property, almost every hand went up.

Holt had requested that his property be rezoned from R-1 residential to B2 commercial, a change necessary in order to install the halfway house.

"The public outcry has been phenomenal," said Trustee Jeanne Robinson, adding that the four members present were in agreement.

Other members present were Cheryl Smith, Bill Bilerey and Pam Muth. Trustee Nancy Benton was not present at the meeting; a sixth board seat is open.

While the trustees could have voted Saturday, they tabled it until the next meeting, to be held 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 16 at the village hall. Bruce said when there is no opposition to a rezoning, votes are held at special on-site meetings. But because of the controversy it was decided hold to delay this vote.

Holt, who seemed to take the defeat in stride, said he does not plan to appeal.

"I think it's neat how the community stuck together," said Holt, a Decatur resident who formerly lived in Long Creek, and plans to live on this site. "I think everybody here wants to help people. They just don't want it here."

Holt, revealed his halfway house plan at the Long Creek Village Board meeting on March 19.

When he first told the board about his plan for the property in 2005, he requested special permit consideration to build the large structures before his home, Bruce recalled. At that time, Holt, who owns a Decatur car lot, said he intended to use the buildings to house vehicles and equipment.

The Rev. Doug Lowery, pastor of Maranatha Assembly of God, said Holt came to him with the idea of a halfway house after the buildings were already under construction.

"As he was praying to help people, he started proceeding on that," Lowery said.

The pastor said he experienced similar opposition to missions he helped open in Decatur.

"These are always good ideas for somewhere else," Lowery said.

Huey Freeman can be reached at hfreeman@herald-review.com or 421-6985.