Water conservationist Dana Ball on Tuesday presented recommendations for preserving and enhancing streams in Greene County to members of the County Planning Commission.

The recommendations resulted from four “growth readiness” workshops hosted by a nonprofit water quality group last year and this year for area government officials and others.

Ball said the workshops were held to help the county and municipalities evaluate ordinances and practices now in place, and to see if changes are needed to prepare for changes in Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation regulations, especially as they relate to stormwater.

Ball, an employee of the Tennessee Valley Authority and former president of the water quality group called the Middle Nolichucky Watershed Alliance, presented each commissioner with a draft of the “Greene County Growth Readiness Report.”

“This information came from the community,” Ball said.

Polluted Streams

Over half the streams in Greene County are on a state government list of polluted waterways, Ball said.

Future growth in Greene County should balance development with preservation of natural resources in the area, she said.

Ball gave a PowerPoint presentation that included projections of growth in different parts of Greene County and specific suggestions of water-friendly practices the county might consider implementing.

Those practices included:

• minimizing the number of cul-de-sacs and incorporating landscaped areas in new cul-de-sacs to reduce their impervious surfaces;

• directing untreated stormwater runoff away from drains and into retention areas planted with “vegetated screens”;

• encouraging the use of native plants, shrubs and trees; and,

• in general, encouraging development that has a low impact on natural resources.

Action Taken By Commission

The commission heard Ball after reviewing six properties, and approving seven subdivisions and three revisions.

The commissioners gave final approval to:
• the Joe Hurley Estate subdivision on Joe Hurley Lane;

• the Betty Rhea subdivision on Marvin Road and Pierce Lane; and

• the J.C. Wampler subdivision on Midway Railroad Street and McDonald Road.

The members voted to release one of two $10,000 bonds for River Plantation Phase 2 after members were told the only work left on the site was to install road signs and drainage areas.

The commissioners heard a request from Salome Velez, who was asking that property she and her husband Enrique own on West Andrew Johnson Highway be rezoned from A-1 (general agriculture district) to B-2 (general business district).

Mrs. Velez said she intended to have a used car lot built on her property.

The commission approved the rezoning request, and told Velez that, since her property was within the growth area of the Town of Greeneville, the Greeneville Planning Commission would also have to approve. The request will next go to the Greene County Commission for final approval.

Commissioners tabled a review of the Blue Ridge Meadows Section 1 subdivision (Pinnacle Ridges) off the Erwin Highway for 30 days pending further investigation of the site.

The seven minor subdivisions approved by the planning commission were:

• the D & Jirepz Barnes subdivision of 9.37 acres on Timber Ridge Road, owned by Anna and Bennie McDonald White;

• the 1.86-acre Hilton and Faye Snipes subdivision on Midway Circle, owned by the Snipes;

• the Rick Malone subdivision of 1.35 acres on Old Baileyton Road, owned by Rick and Cleo Malone;

• the Elizabeth and Tommy Hensley Murray subdivision of 0.58 acres owned by J.D. and Betty House;

• the Forrest and Sandra Landers subdivision of 1.4 acres on Babbs Mill Road, owned by the Landers;

• the 2.68-acre Fann Property subdivision on Delta Valley Road owned by David and Peggy Fann; and

• the Charles Darnell subdivision of 5.36 acres on Whitesand Road owned by Charles and Virginia Darnell.

Redivisions were approved for three properties:

• the 9.5-acre Rhea W. property Section 1 on Pleasant Hill Road, owned by Tommy and John Broyles;

• the Harmon Cutshall property of two acres on Walters Road, owned by Rita Farley; and

• the David L. Brower 5.17-acre property on Pilot Mountain Road, owned by O.E. and Ursula Edwards.

The planning commission also approved four new forms for use in the Greene County Building and Zoning Office: a building permit application; a building permit; inspection record; and certificate of zoning compliance.

The forms will be used in the office beginning Sept. 3, when new building regulations go into effect, according to Tim Tweed, an assistant to county building commissioner Leon Bird.