Planning panel green lights PUD

Loudon County Planning Commission is recommending the temporary moratorium on Planned Unit Developments in the county continue indefinitely.

The planning commission voted 9-2 earlier this month to make the ban on high-density developments, first implemented by commissioners in October and extended in February, permanent.

The county will discuss the elimination of PUDs at a June workshop. If commission can come to an agreement on the issue, the permanent ban will be voted on during the next meeting, which will be in August.

A policy on PUDs developed a decade ago allowed 2.5 units per acre on a minimum total development of 75 acres. A ban on PUDs would limit developers to standard R-1 residential rules of no more than two units per acre.

Community meetings were held throughout the county over the last few months to get input from residents on their views regarding residential development.

“Overwhelmingly, the residents of Loudon County are opposed to the kind of over development they’ve seen in Lenoir City, Hardin Valley, Farragut and Northshore Drive in west Knox County,” Commissioner Van Shaver said.

The results of the May 3 primary seemed to indicate residents are concerned about too much development. Several commission races seemed to turn on the issue of growth, development and the PUD ban.

In District 5, Seat B, incumbent Shaver, who voted for the PUD ban, beat challenger Eddie Simpson, an opponent of the ban. In District 6, incumbent Adam Waller, who voted for the ban, beat Mark Matlock, who campaigned against the policy.

Gary Whitfield, commissioner from district 4, said he has no plans to change his vote for the ban.

“I think the voters spoke very loudly that they are not interested seeing more PUDs,” Whitfield said.

Two new commissioners in District 1, Chase Randolph and William Geames, have not committed either way on the issue. During the campaign, both said they were for controlled growth. They will not take office until Sept. 1.

One part of the county where voters and commissioners feel comfortable with PUDs might be Lenoir City.

The two commissioners who represent Lenoir City residents in District 2 and voted against the PUD ban, Julia Hurley and Matthew Tinker, lost their seats. The winners in those races were William Jenkins and Rosemary Hines Quillen, both of whom said during the campaign they were not in favor of the ban.

While Quillen and Jenkins might be votes against the moratorium, they also will not take their seats until Sept. 1.