County Talks Zoning, TWRA Partnership
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County Talks Zoning, TWRA Partnership
By Shane Gilreath
SCN Contributing Editor
[email protected]
At its June monthly meeting, the Scott County Commission went straight to business, considering issues ranging from future county growth and land-use to public safety and local heritage.
County Mayor Jerried Jeffers informed attendees that county officials had recently met with representatives from the University of Tennessee’s Center for Public Planning. The center works with local governments across Tennessee to provide technical assistance, research, education, and guidance on issues such as growth management, land-use planning, zoning, economic development, and community planning.
According to Jeffers, the meeting comes on the heels of requests from local citizens and publicly from Cumberland Clear for the commission to examine a moratorium on data centers, an issue that has become increasingly controversial in communities across the nation. While Scott County sought information regarding the development of county zoning regulations, Jeffers acknowledged that the process would take time and would require substantial discussions in communities across the county.
Documents Jeffers provided to SCN suggests initial talks centered on the current status of planning and zoning regulations throughout the state, landmark court decisions that established the legal foundation for zoning authority, and the benefits zoning can provide for landowners and communities, as well as some practical considerations local governments face when implementing planning regulations and balancing property rights with future growth.
Zoning discussions come at a time when Scott County continues to emphasize tourism as a major component of the local economy. As the county invests in outdoor recreation and tourism adjacent businesses, questions regarding future land use may become increasingly important. Of equal importance, planning and zoning regulations are often viewed as tools that help communities protect scenic corridors, preserve natural resources, guide commercial development, reduce conflicts between commercial and recreational land use, and maintain the character that attracts visitors to areas in the first place. Supporters of zoning have long argued that thoughtful land-use planning can help ensure that tourism-related investments compliment existing communities while protecting the attractions that draw visitors to the region.
Commissioners also approved an agreement involving the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), and Scott County regarding the county-leased property beneath the New River Bridge on Highway 27. According to the resolution, Scott County entered into the agreement with TDOT in May 2020 for approximately 0.58 acres of highway right-of-way under the bridge. The property includes a public boat ramp and parking area.
County Mayor Jerried Jeffers cited complaints and concerns regarding possible illegal activity at the site as the reason for seeking additional law enforcement assistance through TWRA. As a result, the resolution authorizes county government to finalize an agreement that would allow TWRA to assist with law enforcement efforts on the property, subject to the approval of local law enforcement. Sheriff Brian Keeton was absent from the county commission meeting, although Chief Deputy Brett Bond was in attendance and did not, at the time of the meeting, issue objection.
In other action, commissioners approved a memorial resolution recognizing the lives and contributions of Elvin Franklin Shannon and Stella Evelyn Muse Shannon and officially naming a bridge in their honor.
The resolution recounts the couple’s deep roots in Scott County and their long-standing connection to the Wolf Creek area, raising a family while farming property that has remained in the Shannon family for more than 120 years.
As part of the resolution, the commission formally named the bridge located on Wolf Creek Road the “Elvin and Stella Shannon Memorial Bridge.”
