Regional Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Welcome to the November the 11th, 2025 Johnson City Regional Planning Commission meeting. If you're here to speak during the public hearing portion of the agenda, please wait until I have opened the public hearing. And once opened, one person at a time may come to the podium to be recognized. Please speak clearly into the microphone and begin by giving your name and address. And then each person will be allowed three minutes to speak. And we ask that you only address the commission. I'll now call the meeting to order at one minute after 6. I'll ask Commissioner Dutton to please lead us in an invocation in the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

Certainly. Uh let us bow our heads. Heavenly Father, we come before you this evening with grateful hearts, thanking you for the privilege to serve this community. We ask for your guidance in all that is said and done in this meeting. Grant us the wisdom to make decisions that reflect your kingdom and help us to lead with humility, to listen with compassion, and to act with integrity. Lord, bless our city and all who call it home. Let your presence be among us now and may we all bring glory to you this evening. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Please rise for the pledge of

allegiance of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, sir. All right. We have before us the agenda for this evening. Does anyone have any changes or additions or reductions? Move it's approved. Second. All right. I have a motion and a second to approve the agenda as presented. All in favor say I. I.

Any opposed? Thank you. We also have before us the amendments for the meeting on October 21st, 2025. Any changes or additions? Mr. Chairman, I move that we approve the minutes as presented. Second. I have a motion and a second to approve the minutes as presented from October 21st, 2025. All in favor say I.

I. Any opposed? We have no one registered for public comment this evening. So, we'll move directly into section six, new business. The first item on new business is a proposed text amendment from Washington text amendment for Washington County zoning resolution. We'll have that presented by Sarah Sarah Fifel. Would you please come forward? Thank you. Good evening, chair, vice chair, commissioner Sarah Flyfell presenting on a Washington County text amendment for assisted living facilities. So just a background timeline on this. It went before Washington County Planning Commission on November 4th and was approved unanimously. We have tonight and then it will go to Jonesboro Planning Commission and Washington County Commission. So Washington County Planning Staff would like to amend the Washington County zoning resolution section 515 to allow assisted living facilities in the PRBD zoning district. Under the current regulations of the zoning resolution, assisted living facilities are permitted in MS, PRD1, PRD2, PRD3, and PB1, PBD1 zoning districts. This amendment would allow these facilities to be placed in the PRBD or planned residential business district. So, this is just the official text amendment and what would be changed. And decision options are recommend to approve the text amendment as requested,

recommend to deny the amendment, and defer action to a later date pending the receipt of additional information. To be clear, this is this is our responsibility to make an advisory take an advisory vote for the Washington County Commission to make a decision. So, we're only acting in an advisory position to Washington County. Yes. Does anyone have any questions? And this is just where we would be adding the uh possibility of having assisted living facilities and one additional zone in the county. And that new zone would be which if you'd slip back PRBD PRBD business district. Does anyone have any questions for staff?

Okay. If you have a seat, you could go ahead and have a seat now. I believe uh Andy Charles, you're here from the county. Does anyone have any questions for our county representative that's here? I'll open the floor for public comment. Does anyone here to speak in favor or against the question before us? Seeing no one here to speak to the question, I'll close the floor. So now the questions of the month are between us. Does anyone have any questions or discussion?

No, Mr. Chairman, I think this is a perfectly reasonable request. Um I think the um the use of assisted living facilities in um PRBD is is is appropriate. Um so um it makes sense makes sense to me. I see no question about this. It looks perfectly reasonable to me to add that zone where assisted living facilities can be added in business districts. I'd entertain a motion. Mr. Chairman, I move that uh we recommend approval um of the uh text amendment as presented. Second.

All right. I have a motion to uh recommend approval of adding this adjusting the zoning code to add PRBD to the approved list of zones where assisted living facilities would be acceptable in the Washington County and I have a second. Further discussion? All right, seeing no further discussion, please call the role. Commissioner Aldridge, yes. Commissioner Bombgardner, yes. Commissioner Goodson, yes. Commissioner Kelly, yes. Commissioner Williams, yes. Vice Chairman Dutton, yes. Chairman Dagenheart,

yes. All right. Thank you very much. Uh, Miss Pudney, I believe you're up next. We have a uh rightway abandonment of 27 acres at West Walnut Street, 2832. Good evening, chair, vice chair, commissioners. Riley Putney, development coordinator, and tonight we have a rightaway abandonment at 2832 West Walnut Street. Tonight is the first reading um excuse me, the recommendation and public hearing with the planning commission. It is an ordinance so it does have three readings at the city commission level with the final uh action tentative for January 1st. The request is to abandon a portion of a rideway roughly 27 acres that borders 2832 West Walnut and lies within the Johnson City Fire Department training facility which is the reason for the request to abandon. There are no concerns over the abandonment. The abandonment will have a public utility easement that is being retained through the abandonment survey and staff recommends approval of the rightway abandonment. Any questions of staff? Thank you very much, Miss Budney. Is anyone here I'll open the floor for public comment. Is anyone here to speak for or against this proposal? Seeing none, I'll close the floor. Discussion amongst us. Mr. Chairman, looking up and down the dis here and seeing the countenance on my colleagues faces, um I recommend um I move that we recommend approval of the

right-of-way abandonment retaining 15 foot wide public utility easement. I'll second the motion. All right. Further discussion? Seeing none, please call the role. Commissioner Aldridge, yes. Commissioner Bombgardner, yes. Commissioner Goodson, yes. Commissioner Kelly, yes. Commissioner Williams, yes. Vice Chairman Dutton, yes. Chairman Dagenheart, yes.

Thank you very much, Miss Fifel, I think you're up again. The next item is 2121 Simol Drive. This is a reszoning of property from R2 petition to R2 R2C planned residential on Simol Drive.

Okay. So, background timeline on this. We have tonight's hearing and then it will have three readings at city commission level. Letters were sent out and signs placed on property on October 23rd and a neighborhood meeting was held on November 3rd. So these are just some aerial views to give context on the site. We have the site in question here with Seol Drive, Antioch Road over kind of to the west and then Grace Fellowship Church toward the south of the property. This is just a more zoomed in view. And just some site pictures. So we have this looking west toward Antioch Road and then looking east toward South Greenwood Drive. So the request is to reszone one parcel 4.81 acres from R2 lowdensity residential to R2C lowdensity residential. And this is to accommodate a future 11 lot single family residential community for those affected by Hurricane Helen. So current zoning of the site is R2 and adjacent we have R2 and R3 more R2 nearby and again the request is R2C. So to give some comparison on what is current versus what is proposed in the concept plan the biggest difference is lot size. So currently the minimum lot size is 15,000 square feet. Um, R2C is generally 6,000. Uh, the minimum here is going to be 8,600. So, what that means is we can go from a potential number of lots of nine on R2 to the concept plan proposing 11. So the concept plan, we see 11 single family dwellings with a new public road

in Culdeac, sidewalks on both sides of that and there's a walking trail that's approximately.33 miles or about third of a mile wrapping around the west and lower portions of the property and the storm water retention pond. 1.6 acres of the proposal is open space with 1.37 or 82% being active open space. So, current conditions of the site, it's wooded and vacant lot with kind of a gentle slope toward the east and the lowest elevation would be on the western property line. Utilities, water, and sewer is available to the site. Traffic, this development does not meet the requirements for a traffic study per transportation, and there is a local transit stop. 21 miles away kind of at the corner of South Greenwood and Colony Park. So current land use again this is vacant. Uh seminal drive has very residential land use. So Horizon 2045 growth management plan does designate this as the neighborhood residential place type as we see depicted here. Now, what that kind of means is this is designated more toward larger lot sizes and single family residential use, which this does fit. So, some relevant policies of Horizon 2045 that apply here. Strong neighborhoods. So support the development of housing choices that reflect the compatibility of scale and creation of place as defined by the land use map. And we have quality growth and development. So we want to encourage growth in areas already served by public utilities, transportation networks, and schools. So citizen comments again, a neighborhood meeting was held on

November 3rd at 5:30 p.m. with six attendants. Density was a big concern and traffic. The impact along Antioch Road and Huffpine Circle was mentioned a few times. Storm water runoff was also mentioned as a potential concern by a couple of people and natural features. So talk about removing existing foliage, any wildlife, the impact on that and one citizen phone call was taken since then. Uh same concerns. Staff recommendation is to approve the resounding request based on it is within the allowed density. Uh the R2C zoning district and the proposed development do support the horizon 2045 plan and its policies for providing a variety of housing options. And then this zoning is also supported by the future land use map. So decision options are recommend to approve the resoning as requested, recommend to deny or defer action to a later date upon the receipt of more information and staff and I for are here for any questions you have of us.

Questions for staff? I've got I've got one question. Sorry. So as it's currently zoned, they could have nine lots, but with the concept plan submitted, it would be 11. So a net increase of two lots. Is that correct? Yes. I think this is a question of a point of clarification as here as well because it's um this would be a higher density use against lower density use or be it consistent with the horizon 2045 plan that will require a landscape buffer along the north northerly property line. Correct.

Sorry that one. That's a bit of a technical question. So, um it is a low intensity use to a low intensity use. So, there would be some buffer that would be required here at the road. How about how about along the north property line between this one? Yep. I'm going to I'm going to need to look that one up just a second. But that one No. Oh, sorry. Riley's saying no. So, just up at the the top one. So, it sounds like these lots may not be available to the general public, but they're for a very specific group of people who were affected by Hurricane Helen. Is that through a nonprofit? Is that through the city? How are those future residents being chosen?

Um, that you'd want to ask the applicant that during the public hearing. Any other questions for staff? I just have one one question regarding the walking trail. It looks like it kind of goes to nowhere um at the end there. What what's what's the deal with that? It's connecting into the Grace Church property. Connecting to what? The the Grace Church. Grace Fellowship Church. Okay. Thank you. Mhm. Okay. So, will you be able to look up the question about the uh I'll double verify. Okay. So, you'll you'll nod to us when you get look. Thank you very much.

Any other questions for staff before we open the floor? Thank you very much, Sarah. I'll open the floor for public comment. Is the developer here? Uh, if you could come up, please, sir, and give us your name and address. Good evening, commission. My name is Alf Nelson at 11:05 Cherokee Road. I'm the uh executive pastor at Grace Fellowship Church. And so our desire is to donate this land to Appalachin Service Projects so that they can build homes on it. The change of zoning is merely a request, as Mr. Williams said, to be able to accommodate two more families on the property. Our church began a partnership with ASP shortly after Helen to raise money to build houses, uh, which has been very successful, and we're able to partner with ASP to build 20 houses. Um, but during that process, we also recognized that we had this piece of property that we've had for a long time that's been sitting there and was on the market for a long time as well. And one of our elders had the idea and the suggestion that could we donate that to ASP for homes for residents. And so the goal is that this would provide homes for folks who lost their property uh in the storm. Not only lost their home, but lost their land in the storm. Uh, Anie Boyd is here with ASP with us as well. they're going to be doing the project and so she can also answer questions about who the homes would go to.

Thank you, sir.

As you mentioned, my name is Anie Boyd and I'm the East Tennessee regional director for Appalach Service Project. Um, and have been kind of overseeing our Helen relief in the last year, year and a half. Um, one of the major things that we encountered while doing Helen relief is we do have a lot of folks who have either lost their land because of Helen or were renters and no longer have affordable housing options. Um, so how ASP works is we go back and try to help make families whole again, as whole as we can by giving them a house that's mortgage free by using donations from local churches as well as grants. Um, national donations coming in and then we use volunteer labor to help keep our costs low. So when we move someone back into a house, they are going in mortgage free. So that is one less worry that they have as they start to resettle. Um so this is very very beneficial to our our clients that we have that are right now struggling to figure out where they're going to go. Um and it's such close proximity to the places that were most impacted during the flood that this allows us to keep folks in communities that they know and love.

Would your church retain ownership of that property if it were to be subdivided? No, ma'am. Thank you. Would there be a homeowners association attached to these properties? Would it be would they would the individual families own the properties be free and clear? They would. Um, when we transfer property to our homeowners, we carry a 5-year deed restriction. Some of the money that we have also carries a 15-year deed restriction. It depends on what grant money we use. Um but that just means that they can't sell the property for five years and then that um reduces the amount that they owe back to us over the course of five years. So if they stay in the full five years, they get ownership free and clear and the equity is all theirs.

Okay. So then a future owner after that deed restriction expires, there's no deed restriction to pass that. Yes. Right. And likewise, if the homeowner dies during that course of recapture that it falls off the property as well. Okay. Okay. Thank you for that clarification.

Miss Boyd, do you all already have, excuse me, [clears throat] the family selected? We have not. Um, knowing that this is a lengthy process, we will kind of begin that process once we know that this is a a program, a project that we're going to be able to go forward with. Um, one of my biggest things as running the department is not to instill false hope. Um, so I wanted to make sure that we have all of this in our possession and are ready to develop it. Um, we have received funds that we we have money ready to develop it if if everything goes as we plan.

Further questions. Thank you very much. Thank you.

Anyone else to speak to the question or against the question? You please come forward and give us your name and address. My name is My name is Seth Johns. I live at 111 Antioch Road. So, basically, my backyard would run right up to where the water retention pond is. I already experience a lot of issues when we get significant rain with flooding through my backyard. And if there were to be any flooding from the retention pond, it would go directly onto my property to then drain out towards the road. Um, I'm also very concerned with the traffic on Seminal Road. It's already a very busy road and adding this property with 11 additional units there is only going to exasperate that problem. There's also a blind hill on Seminal Road going down towards that entrance. um which would once again I think just be exasperated by adding more homes to that. Um and it's just a very nice nature area back behind our house. I'd hate to see it go, but I understand progress and things as such. My biggest biggest concern though is the water retention pond and the flooding and how that could impact my home. They built a home next to us about 10 years ago. I never had any, excuse [clears throat] me, flooding problems in my basement. Since then, when I do get heavy rains, I actually have flood water come up through the floor in my basement. And so, I would just be really concerned that this would just add to that problem.

Thank you. Thank you.

Please come forward. Can you start with your name and address, please?

Yes. My name is Malia Grant. I live at 2910 Musket Drive, Johnson City, Tennessee. So, thank you all for allowing us to be here. Um, I am a close neighbor to this property. I also attend Grace Fellowship Church and also serve on staff there and just want to say I fully support this decision for um the use of this property. As a neighbor, I couldn't see a better use for this property to bring hope to families that have just suffered a traumatic experience. I've had the opportunity to serve with ASP um with some of these families and just to be able to provide that hope of a new home for them as they have lost so much. And so, as a Johnson City resident, um I see it as just a way that we are being a good neighbor um to our our neighbors right down right down the road. And so just wanted to express as someone very close by on Musket Drive just um the support for this and just the hope that this this would provide to so many families. And I know this is about land, but it's about so much more. It is about the people um that would be impacted by this very um crucial decision. So thank you for your consideration.

Thank you, ma'am. Good evening, commission. My name is Jim McMacken. I live at 8 Northridge Circle here in Johnson City, and I wish to voice my support for the resoning of 2121 Seminal Drive from R2 to R2C as presented in the planning commission's agenda summary. I've had the opportunity to serve with ASP on two Hurricane Helen build work days so far this year. One here in Washington County and the other one here in Johnson City. I commend ASP on their high quality workmanship and professionalism. I believe this is a planned residential space will be an asset to our community at large. Also being in the North Hill subdivision a few years ago, we had significant concerns about a development apartment complex between the mall of Johnson City and Sundale. We had concerns about storm water runoff and traffic as well and those concerns have not come to fruition and they have been good neighbors to us. So I know that within the inspection process and with the bill process the water retention pond I think will be significantly done well and and and of respect and I think these folks will be a great asset to the community and good neighbors. Thank you so much.

Thank you sir. Yes ma'am. Would come up please.

[clears throat]

I'm uh Katherine Murray and I live at 11:01 Antioch Road. I am directly uh adjacent to the uh entrance road. Uh, and I think it's honorable to provide homes for those that have been affected u by that horrible flood. My questions and if it's not at this meeting that we need to address them, you can tell me when it would be appropriate. But my concern is that uh when the first property on Simino was built, I asked the builder to put in a silk fence and those um straw bells. He refused. Uh I approached someone at the city planning, I don't know who it was then, and they said unless it comes out in the road, which next rainstorm it did. Now, it dumped six inches of mud onto my property, and it was quite some time before it could be usable again. And the city demanded, guess what? that they put in a silt fence and put in the hay bales, which I hope this project has a great uh reputation for the builder because I don't know who the builder was on this project that I had the problem with. Uh but we are all neighbors that it tends to slope down on either direction. Uh so that's that's my concern. Also uh traffic and other things that have been

mentioned. But the main thing uh other excuse me other thing is that this road uh to approach in there is coming out on a very busy and at the planning of the information meeting it said that there wasn't a study on see how busy Simino was. Well, as a neighbor and a owner next to it, it's extremely busy and they fly through there and they've wrecked in my yard three times now. Uh, not making the curve and not making it in time to straighten out. Um, I don't think there's enough property to be between me and the next home to put a 50 foot road plus I understand from a minute ago uh sidewalks. Uh, so it may be that they need to build a a wall buildup or something um there. I don't I don't know. If it's not at this meeting, who do I direct those questions to? and possibility of having a study done on the traffic because it's safety. It's safety issues for these [clears throat] prospective homeowners as well as their school kids. Um, so is this the meeting or one of the next ones or Yes,

ma'am. I already have a I have a couple of notes about some questions that I'm going to ask of city staff for you that should answer your questions. Okay. Well, um they said they would absolutely uh mark it and everything, but I don't I've kind of foot measured it out and I don't think you've got enough room to put in that road and sidewalks. That's just my opinion and all. Thank you for uh hearing us. And uh get a good builder. did an excellent build here because the neighborhood and and adjoining properties should be protected for the city we love too, you know.

Thank you, ma'am.

Oh, thank you. Next. Hello, commission. My name is Matt Murphy. I live at 1500 Strawberry Lane in Johnson City. I'm the lead pastor at Grace Fellowship Church. Our mission as a church is building a community to reach a community and I cannot think of a better expression of that mission than this project. Whether it is nine homes or 11 homes, uh our heart is to help our community, especially people who are experiencing tremendous brokenness and vulnerability. And one of the ways that our church responded following Helen was to raise resources for 20 homes to be built. But we've also been involved in the building. Our our church has sent numerous volunteers to serve and to help. And throughout this whole process over the past 13 months, we have been so impressed with ASP with their professionalism, their communication, their hard work, how thorough they have been. uh we've been so pleased to partner with them. And so we're so excited about this project. We really believe that there are families and we all know this. There's families who have been impacted in such a um such a dramatic way and this can be such a tangible um expression of love and care to them. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Further comments? Seeing no others, I'll close the floor for public comment. All right, ladies and gentlemen of the commission, I think the question now for us. Mr. Chairman, I have a couple of questions for um city staff. If um please go ahead indulge. Um, Lawrence, could I borrow you for a second, please? Thank you. And perhaps Anthony, too, just to

expeditiously here. Sorry. So, question question for you, Lawrence, regarding um regarding storm water. You've heard some concerns from the neighbors there. And I would imagine that in this circumstance and being somewhat familiar with the topography here, having seen it, um the construction of that storm pond, if anything, is likely to mitigate any existing issues because detaining, retaining, and you're going to control the flows from that what is what is currently quite a steep but a general swale. There's no permanent stream in there. So, the pond is probably going to

actually reduce exactly flows, flood flows going forward. the the flows will equal or be less than what it is as it flows off the site right now. And they will be directing the water to the storm water pond. Yeah. Which uh you know if it's discharging close to the property line, we'll make sure they have a level spreader so that sheet flows. We don't try to change the outfalls, but but yeah, like you said, it's going to cut off the water from and for and for the benefit of the um um of our citizen who asked the question about the storm water pollution prevention plan and silt fence and hales swip the storm water pollution prevention plan is actually a part of the engineering plans. It is something that's going to be inspected by city inspectors. It's something that has to be signed off on by

notice the coverage because it'll be more than an acre. They'll need a notice of coverage from Tde as well. So TDC will be reviewing that as well and it'll be uh because it's more than an acre they'll do be doing water quality as well. Okay. So you're not really concerned about I mean again the flows I mean the point the important point is storm flows going forward should be reduced for the neighbors and that helpful. Yes. And if there is erosion problems any citizens can can call into the city. We will come out there and address it and make them clean up the erosion that's come onto their property as well. So they they there is a storm water control ordinance and an erosion sediment control ordinance that controls sediment.

Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. uh street department and then they'll get them in touch with the storm water division and then the storm water division will come out and take a look. We've got inspectors that come out there and look at specific cases where you know if there's mud in the streets, there's mud that leaves their site that shouldn't be happening. All right. Thank you. Sure. So thank you very much sir.

Sure. and seeing perhaps you might comment briefly on traffic. I know I don't think we're going to require a traffic report given that it's 11 an additional 11 homes, but just looking at that section of street there, I mean 11 homes, I can't imagine 11 homes fundamentally adjusting the level of service on um on Seol at all or at the intersections either way. Does does that present any concerns to you as a traffic engineer?

Uh we did look at it. So we did do some counts of our own and we did uh do some calculations of what the traffic numbers would be and the traffic numbers during the peak periods which is usually where you have the your biggest problem were very low and uh we looked at the level of service what it would change uh from the stop signs that we've got right now at Antioch and Simol and while the delay goes up um few ten of a second per vehicle it still remains a very good level of service. Thank you very much. All right, we've heard from staff, we've heard from the public, and we've heard from staff. Again, any other questions for staff?

I'd like to to ask the question from city I'm not sure who would answer this in regards to the lady's um concern about protecting the adjacent property during the construction process. they'll submit a grading plan and uh they they're not allowed to grade on anybody else's property. They need to keep the the construction on their property. So, we'll review that to make sure that that's they're in compliance with that.

Okay. Are they required to put up any kind of barricade or anything like that to make sure that runoff does not go onto their property? the the streets will be curved and guttered and then the water storm water should be directed back to the pond. So that should cut off the storm water as far as the grading goes. If they don't have enough room that maybe a retaining wall does need to be built that they'll submit the grading plan to make sure and we'll make sure they're in compliance with staying on their property to do this to do the work itself. I think Commissioner Orage's concern may have been during construction there and that was the storm water pollution prevention plan we were talking about and the silt fence that's going to be required and that will be a part of the civil plan. So, okay.

Um, yes, they'll have to do that. It will be inspected and as we're saying, it has to be reviewed and approved by TDC, too. Thank you. All right. Sure. And there'll be a sidewalk all the way around all the way to the culdeac. Right. And back. Okay.

I'm actually not sure if my question should be directed towards staff or to the developer. So, um, if you know the answer, you can just come to the podium. Um, in looking at the diagram there, we've got yellow lots which appear to be lots that will be owned, built by, and then given to ASP homeowners or home buyers. And then we've got the green lot which is going to have the retention pond and in theory should avoid having an HOA. So the my question is will Grace retain ownership of that green section in the maintenance of that storm water pond or will that be under the ownership of ASP. We're still figuring out the details of that in terms of actually funding a a fund to set aside so that maintenance could be retained there. Um but we hadn't definitively decided who would retain ownership of that.

Right. But it will be maintained by a party. Yes. Got it. That is part of the plan. Just figuring out exactly who. Got it. Thanks. And just for clarification's sake, any decision that we reach tonight is only advisory. The the final decision will go before the city commission for three readings. We're not a final decision body here. We're only making a recommendation.

I I think this is a wonderful project. Um I think it's very um great of grace to um offer this land to the people who have lost everything. Um and and I fully support it. Um so I'd like to make a motion that we go ahead and um reszone 2121 Simol Drive R2 low density residential to R2C plan residential. I'll second.

All right. We have a motion to uh reszone 2121 Simol Drive from R2 to R2C and a second further discussion. I'd like to make the comment that I too think it's an amazing project and it just shows another example of how great a citizen a corporate citizen that Grace Fellowship is. Uh, I'd also like to make the comment that I'm very familiar with Appalachia service project. They couldn't find a better builder. So, to alleviate any concerns, um, this project will be done very well. So,

I'd like to echo my colleagues sentiments and to the um residents. Um, I know it's development. when development happens next to you on what is existing what is an existing vacant tract of land. We do understand that that is disconcerting. It's it's something that's you know you're taking something that's green space now it's going away and there are going to be some some homes there. Um I'm I'm comfortable certainly having spoken with you know having asked the questions of city staff as well the impact to you certainly from storm water traffic um and during construction from a storm water pollution prevention um uh perspective will be will be mitigated. I don't think there's undue risk there. I hope um I hope what you've heard from city staff tonight gives you a little bit of that assurance as well. I'm grateful to have these kinds of partners in our community to see them make this kind of investment in our in our community to make for a better Johnson City. And we'll be v voting in favor of this. Call the role.

Commissioner Aldridge, yes. Commissioner Bombgardner, yes. Commissioner Goodson, yes. Commissioner Kelly, yes. Commissioner Williams, yes. Vice Chairman Dutton, yes. Chairman Dagenheart,

yes. All right, we'll move to number four on the agenda. Reszoning 2600 People Street. Sarah Falafel Fifel, please forgive me. Okay, next on the agenda we had the Miss Flight. Could you speak just a little bit closer to the microphone for us? Appreciate you. Thank you.

All right. We have the reszoning of 2600 People Street from R3 to MS1. So, same timeline on this one as the last one. After this, it will go to three readings at the city commission level and the dates for sending out those letters and posting signs and the neighborhood meeting are the same. So, this is just kind of a street view of the property on People's Street just to kind of orient you to where it is. And then this is a request to reszone one parcel 2.06 06 acres from R3 medium density residential to MS1 medical services and the reason would be to accommodate for a future hotel. So current zoning of course we have R3 and the requested is MS1. Adjacent to the property we have R3 plan business and medical services. Nearby we have R3 and of course I26 to the north. So permitted uses of MS1 clinics, hospitals and hotels, motel are permitted. Uh the setback requirements so from the front 35 ft and the sideyards it's a minimum total depth of 12 feet for the first story, eight additional feet for each of the next two. And then for that final one, it'll be four additional feet. And the reard minimum depth is 30. The concept plan submitted, we have a 121 room four-story hotel. It's 128 parking spaces and five handicap parking spaces. We also [snorts] have a 60x60 joint entrance governed by a transportation easement with the adjacent lot. A sewer easement can also be found toward the rear of the property right over here. And there's will be a sidewalk along sidewalk along People Street. So, current conditions, it's vacant with commercial and multifamily usage to the west and south and single family and

public usage farther to the east of the property. Utilities, there's a water line along People's Street. A sewer extension will be required by the developer. A traffic study will be done at the time of development permits. And as far as transit, there is a stop about a half mile away at 319 People Street and it's on the Silver Route. So, Horizon 2045 does designate this as compact residential. And we see the property right here. [snorts] And then over here, this would be the Johnson City Crossing Center with Hobby Lobby and those buildings. So, what this means, what we're seeing here, it is a commercial development, but it is low intensity. It is autofocused and single use, which is in keeping with horizon 2045. And a couple of relevant policies here, prosperous economy. So we want to identify and promote key commercial corridors and retail that align with the land use plans and market demand. And we want to align zoning regulations to facilitate that diverse development within these commercial corridors that we find. So citizen comments, a neighborhood meeting was held on November 3rd and no public were present. No comments have been submitted to staff. for staff recommendation is to approve the resoning as requested on the grounds that this is in a commercial corridor and the proposed MS1 zoning district and proposed development do support the prosperous economy policies of the Horizon 2045 growth management plan and decision options. So recommend to approve the resoning, recommend to deny or defer action to a later date. And I'm here for any questions you have of me.

Any questions for staff?

I have one question and I'm going to probably direct this to senior staff. Do this does this invoke any overlay considerations? Short answer for a long walk is no.

Okay. Thank you very much. Any other questions for staff? would would you come forward, please? Yes. Could we have your name and address? Uh, Eric Watts in Memphis, Tennessee. Oh, you came from a long way. Thank you very much for today. Apologize for the long drive. Uh,

anyone have any questions for the gentleman? person. I think it's a good use. Thank you. Forgive me. What's the And it may be in the packet. I I forget. Forgive me. What's the flag? Hilton. Hilton. Hilton. Yes. And it is both sides that are for reasonzoning the whole three acres. She had just said one. I'm the end user. I'm the hotel developer. But we it's not No, that's not what we had in our application. This is in fact is actually a subdivision and a resoning. Is that is that correct?

That's correct. So So for an application we had for one lot for MS1 and one lot for and one lot to remain PB. The the MS1 is the property that contained the hotel and that's the property of more focus this evening. Mhm. And the other property is PB1. Oh, so commercial. It's still commercial. Okay. That's what I was managing. Okay. Yes. Sorry. You only needed the because I'm I'm working alongside the seller and I just want to make sure he was getting commercial, too, or he would not be happy. No, no, it's already it's already commercial, but in order to get the hotel, that is why they needed to do the MS1.

I apologize. Yeah, MS1 allows the the property to be developed as a hotel, and that's that's the portion that's being up for consideration this evening. So, any other questions, sir? Thank you very much. I apologize. Any other comments or questions from the public? I'll close the public hearing. Further questions for staff or

Mr. Chairman, I think this is a great use. It's it's right against the right against the freeway. it's it's appropriate location appropriate location for it and be a good amenity for the for the city as well. Is this diagram binding? The one question I had is is the elevation and the site site visibility at these driveways because there's an elevation issue at this at this juncture on this street. Is Anthony here?

Anthony or Wallace would be able to answer that question. the elevation peaks somewhere along here and I don't remember where the peak is. Yeah, they submitted in the concept plan uh they updated the preliminary plat for the site distance and they needed 335 ft. I think it's 30 30 miles an hour along there and they've met that with the uh preliminary plat what they showed on there. So they there might be some grading they need to do at the entrance but we'll make sure that they meet the site distance. Okay. So, you're going to check that? Yes. They've they've reported a site distance on the preliminary plat that meets the ashtto requirements. Okay. So, that's been checked out.

Yes. Thank you very much. I just wanted to check that with traffic and engineering. Yeah. But the crest of the crest of the hill is right around where um Dominion's um Eve facility is. Okay. All right. Thank you. That was my other question. Any other questions? Mr. Chairman, I think it's an appropriate land use. I think it's consistent with the Verizon plan. And I'll make a motion to recommend the resoning as presented. Second. Second. All right. Further discussion. All right. Seeing none, I'll ask for the role to be called. Commissioner Aldridge? Yes.

Commissioner Bombgardner? Yes. Commissioner Goodson? Yes. Commissioner Kelly? Yes. Commissioner Williams. Yes. Vice Chairman Dutton. Yes. Chairman Dagenheart.

Yes. All right. We'll go to item five, which is the preliminary plat, which I think is going to come up any second now. So, in conjunction with the resoning, there is a preliminary plat for 26 uh 2600 People Street. The timeline for this project is the preliminary plat will be presented and approved tonight. construction plans will be submitted um for staff um approval and then at the time of the completion of all public utilities and infrastructure the final plat will come back to you for final approval at a date to be determined similar to what we just saw the this request is to approve the preliminary plat for a two lot subdivision at 2600 People Street. So the you can let me get Yeah, there you go. So lot one is the requested reszoning to MS1 for the hotel. Lot two is remaining for the R3. City water is available for both sites as previous uh previously mentioned. Sewer extension will need to be extended to lot two and then carried over to lot one by the developer. There's a shared access easement for one shared driveway to the uh both adjoining properties. And then as Lawrence has previously stated, an additional driveway that meets the current site distance requirements. Um, and there is, as mentioned in the previous one, a sidewalk that will be along the People Street frontage for the development.

The lot sits relatively flat. Uh in regards to the site, there is the burm uh where the driveway connection has the concern for sight distance, but at the time of any engineered plans, that will be looked at and approved by our engineering staff. So staff recommends approval of the preliminary plat due to it meeting all of the subdivision requirements. I apologize for my earlier comments about site distance. Perhaps a little out of order, but there you go. Completely okay. Any other questions? I'll entertain a motion. I'll move it approval. Second.

All right. For any further discussion when we approve motion for approval of the prelim preliminary plat and the second on 2600 People Street. Any further questions? Call the role. Commissioner Aldridge. Yes. Commissioner Bombgardner. Yes. Commissioner Goodson. Yes. Commissioner Kelly. Yes. Commissioner Williams. Yes. Vice Chairman Dutton. Yes. Chairman Dagenheart. Yes. Thank you very much. Thank you, gentlemen.

All right. We have a little bit more business to take care of. I do not have a chairman's report, but our planning manager does have some information to share with us this evening before we adjourn. So, first and foremost, um I would like to share that while you guys were meeting on October 21st, um earlier that day, I accepted an award that you won. I can send an email, but I just wanted to make this kind of a public um before it goes to the trophy case. But the Horizon 2045 plan won TAPA, which is the American Planning Association Tennessee chapter um plan of the year for uh communities over 50,000 people. So that is every community over 50,000 people. And y'all should be really really proud. Um it's a it's a great honor. So just wanted to share it's up there with the chairman Dickart. Um, and we'll put it in the trophy case outside.

Congratulations to you, too. Thank you for all your hard work.

No, no, no. This is really to me, this is really, y'all, as I look through the plan and I see what we can do with it, I am just really hopeful and I'm really excited. I did not anticipate being the person at the end of the line for this. So, but I'm glad that I get to walk with you guys um as you do some good things with it. Um, the other things to report, uh, Minga resoning was denied by the county. I know you wanted me to kind of come back and say what happens with different things um with the noise and vibration study. Wanted to let y'all know that we have the the team picking that has met one last time. They have selected a consultant. Um we're in the the process of contract and actually a scope with them. Uh the downtown parking study. I think the last time I was here, I mentioned that we were doing a tactical urbanism, which is really we we made a lane of parking on state of Franklin for about 24 hours and asked people to use it and tell us how they experienced it. We also were at the main street days collecting more feedback on what are some parking um options that people might support. So, I think that we got some pretty good feedback about adding additional parking on state of Franklin. And so it was really interesting. Thanks to Anthony and his team um for putting that together and um getting it done in a really safe way. And that is and we're in review of the we have the revisions back and I need to send those back out for staff review for this the plan. But that's all I have as a report.

Oh the Oh, do you mean yeah the new planner the new planner comes December 29th. So it will still be at the end of the year but um you'll see them as soon as soon as we can in January. Any questions for staff? Thank you guys very much. Thank you. It is now 6:58. Any other business? Meeting adjourned.