VITAL POLICY – OPINION – Zoning, Economic Development, and Public Engagement, Jefferson County’s Chance to Finally Get it Right

Long Range Planning Committee to Tackle Important Issues

Some of the most bitter public arguments in the history of Jefferson County have been related to zoning, economic development, and lack of public involvement in decision making. When a board or third-party, acting on behalf of the county or city government, or on its own, decides to make policy decisions on zoning or business development in a vacuum, ignoring public concerns, hell always ensues.

Ten years ago this month, Jefferson County was in a bitter development and property rights argument over a 2000-acre industrial complex that had been planned in secret by the Chamber of Commerce, swampy county commissioners, and shady out-of-town actors using over $455,000 of public and private funding. When the citizens, and 100+ property owners, learned that covert efforts had been under way for two years to forcefully take their farms and homes with the power of eminent domain, the proposed project drew fire from of hundreds of residents and went down in flames like the Hindenburg. EDOC, one of the quasi-government players was sued under open records and open meetings statutes and subsequently lost one of the biggest functional equivalency law suits in Tennessee history, court decision linked here: Wood v. EDOC

Many are hoping that Jefferson County government has learned its lesson.

The Jefferson County Commission has a long-range planning committee that has been tasked with, among other things, making recommendations on zoning and overall development for Jefferson County, essentially a process that is designed to involve the citizen stakeholders in a county-wide transparent process. Action taken by county commission in January to finally start this process of public involvement just may be an indicator that our county government is tired of angry mobs with torches and pitchforks showing up at the courthouse when citizens discover that secret plans were made in smoky rooms or by a governing board indifferent to public sentiment.

The Long Range Planning Committee is comprised of five county commissioners that are thoughtful, intelligent, and analytical, Katy Huffaker (R-District 1), Terry Dockery (R-District 8), Greg Byrd (R-District 4), Randy Bales (I-District 7), and Chair, Jim Snodgrass (R-District 3). We should give them a chance to accomplish their goal of involving residents in county-wide planning meetings by providing them with the resources they need and the support they deserve to carry out their mission.

David Seal is a retired Jefferson County educator, recognized artist, local businessman, 917 Society Volunteer, and current Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. He has also served Jefferson County as a County Commissioner and is a lobbyist for the people on issues such as eminent domain, property rights, education, and broadband accessibility on the state level.