Board Of Zoning Appeals Hears From Citizens

Citizen Karen Hughes speaks to Board Of Zoning Appeals concerning impact of variance.
Staff Photo by Jeff Depew

The Jefferson County Board of Zoning Appeals and Jefferson County Planning Commission held their scheduled meetings on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 in the Historic Courthouse in Dandridge, Tennessee.

The first item before the Board was to determine if a Monastery would be an allowed use of property in the RR-Rural Resort Zone. County planner David Williams recommended that if there were no definitions for this type of use, then it was necessary to find one that it closely fit. After a proper motion and second, the Board voted unanimously that it was allowed.

The second item before the board was a variance request for a garage to be located at the front of the property located at 3125 Tulip Lane, White Pine by Michael Ivy. After recommendation being made, a proper motion and second, the variance was granted with a unanimous vote.

Third was the item of a variance request for a 3 foot setback variance on a new house to be located on Arrowhead Drive, Dandridge by Kenneth & Susan Donoff. Recommendation was made followed by a proper motion and second. The variance was approved by vote with Chairman Terry Reneau voting against and all other members voting for.

The fourth item considered was a variance request for a garage to be located at the front of the property located at 852 Dalton Road, New Market, TN by Greg Henson. After recommendation, motion and proper second, variance was granted with a unanimous vote.

The fifth item of business before the Board came as public comments regarding a sign variance which was granted in a prior board vote. Several citizens were on hand for comment. Many concerns were voiced including state standards compliance, a request for a reversal decision, a request for citizens to be included in the company’s planning process, BZA Board authority to grant such a variance, better public notice methodology and pollution risks of both visual and natural resources. The predominance of the comments were centered around the impact to the natural beauty of the area.

The Board Of Zoning Appeals meeting was then adjourned.

Jefferson Planning Commission

The first two items before the Commission were the approval of site plans for a new cell tower to be located at 1430 Old Dandridge Pike, New Market, TN brought by Verizon Wireless / Mallena Reynolds and another to be located at 2378 Walker Road, Talbott, TN brought by Verizon Wireless / David Shockley. Both plans were recommended to the Commission by County Planner David Williams. After a proper motion and second, the site plans were approved unanimously.

A third item before the Commission was the proposed resolutions for changing the Jefferson County Zoning Resolution as it pertains to Solar, Wind and other means of electricity generation. The item was not moved on and it will be dealt with in a future meeting.

No other business being brought before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned.