Opinion ID: 1564070
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Factor 1: Whether the PIA has definite characteristics of a village.

Text: ¶ 28. Jackson argues the area granted for incorporation does not contain characteristics of a village, since it lacks a town center and various public services and amenities. BI asserts the PIA has characteristics of a village and points to the fact that the United States Census Bureau recognized Byram as a census-designated place. The Objectors contend that they feel a sense of community with Byram, not Jackson, and should be included in the area to be incorporated. ¶ 29. The chancellor heard ample evidence of Byram's established history as an identifiable area with a growing population. In fact, Byram initially was incorporated in 1870 and has since retained its separate identity as a community. [11] Furthermore, the record shows that Byram is a self-contained community with at least 450 businesses. Joseph Lustek, an expert for BI in the field of urban and regional planning, testified that as of 2000, 60.24 percent of land in the PIA was committed to urban and recreational use. The chancellor also heard testimony regarding those portions of the PIA that had little connection to the Byram community: the flood-plain area east of Interstate 55, the Greater Jackson Industrial Center, and the southern and northern rural areas of the PIA. We also find it noteworthy that the chancellor viewed the PIA prior to rendering an opinion. This Court finds substantial and credible evidence to support the chancellor's determination that the twenty-square-mile area has definite characteristics of a village.