Suit Filed Regarding Body Farm

The Jefferson County Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals met on Tuesday, September 24, 2013, in the Historic Jefferson County Courthouse.

The Meeting was Called to Order by Chairman of the Board of Zoning Appeals Reneau. Present for Roll Call were Board Members Batson, Lakin, Shrader and Springfield. Minutes from the previous meeting were Approved with a Motion from Board Member Shrader and 2nd from Board Member Batson.

Two requests came before the Board-One request for a variance to place a garage in the front of a house located at 1403 Lake Front Drive in Dandridge and one for a variance to place a garage in front of a house to be located off Harbor Point Drive. Both requests were recommended by County Planner Williams and were Approved with a Motion from Batson and 2nd from Board Member Springfield and Lakin, respectively.

The Board of Zoning Appeals Adjourned and the Jefferson County Planning Commission Convened. Absent from Roll Call were Commissioner Scarlett and Tucker.

Chairman Reneau Called the Meeting to Order. The Minutes were Approved with a Motion from Shrader and 2nd from Lakin.

Per Recommendation from the County Planner, the Board Approved a request for a proposed Speedway Convenience Store and Fuel Station located at Deep Springs Road and Whillock Road in Dandridge. The proposal was presented by the French-Crockett Heirs/CESO, Inc and the Motion to Approve was made by Commissioner Batson and 2nd by Commissioner Springfield.

One citizen requested that the Commission investigate the possibilities available to control the density of R.V.Parks, stating that they are impacting property values and a noise and traffic nuisance in the Deep Springs area. The County Planner will bring back information on the situation, with possible avenues of action that are available to the Commission.

In other action, the Commission elected Reneau as Chairman, Shrader as Vice Chairman and Springfield as Secretary of the Jefferson County Planning Commission.

Tim Seals, Jefferson County Department Head for the Zoning Office, informed the Commission that a suit had been filed in Chancery Court regarding the Cadaver Research site ( Body Farm), and that the Planning Commission, as well as others, has been named in the suit. The suit was filed on September 9, 2013, in accordance with filing deadlines and largely deals with site plan questions. The County Planner, in association with Seals’ Department and the County Attorney, will address the allegations regarding the site plan issues.

The Meeting was Adjourned.