Daily Times

The Blount County Planning Commission wants to keep a scaled-down variant of the controversial Southern Loop proposal on the drawing board.

During a special called meeting on Tuesday, planning commissioners indicated that they wanted to keep the proposal for a two-lane bypass around the cities of Alcoa and Maryville in the text of the county Policies Plan.

Planners let it slip in a recent TDOT public hearing on the Pellissippi Parkway Extension that local traffic congestion improvements would only be realized if the southern loop is completed.

Citizens Against the Pellissippi Parkway Extension explain the problem:

According to TDOT’s traffic studies, the PPE will produce marginal and short-lived improvements to traffic conditions on a few roads, and within 20 years even these limited improvements will have disappeared.

Becky White, whose firm did the traffic analysis for TDOT, said that this projection assumes the Southern Loop and other proposed new roads will be built.

[..]

Tell TDOT that they need to do credible traffic studies of the impact of the PPE on our existing road system – the road system that will be in place when the PPE is in use. Until this is done there is no objective data supporting the assertion that the PPE will alleviate traffic congestion anywhere in the cities or the county.

In other words, if the southern loop (for which other more desirable alternatives have been identified) is phased out of regional transportation plans, the PPE cannot be justified on the basis of relieving traffic congestion.

WATE:

The first phase of the project will require the demolition of three apartment buildings that sit adjacent to the east end of the school, across Cedar Street.

...There's also a long term plan that would take an entire block of homes on South Cedar Street, including Jeff Weaver's, but the city still doesn't have enough money to buy them.

Residents express concerns about uncertainties, getting a fair value for their properties, and more.

The City of Alcoa Utilities has added a $3 fee to resident's water bills to cover the EPA stormwater Phase II program requirements.

Permit requirements include system-wide erosion and sediment controls, pollution control, and public education initiatives. The stormwater utility will serve as an alternative to increasing taxes to meet the added expense of funding these requirements set by the federal government.

Probably a good thing and I suppose I don't mind paying the extra $3. However, keeping in mind I have not studied this in depth, I hope not that many businesses get credits while I, a resident, am not able to get credits.

Update: I called the City of Alcoa regarding residents that have two water meters, one for the house and one for watering the lawn. It sounds like they made a mistake in charging this fee on the second meter for watering the lawn. It sounds like they should have this handled and not charge this fee next month on the second meter.

The House conservation subcommittee voted against a ban on mountaintop removal mining.

Tom Humphrey files this report on the House subcommittee vote. Voting against the bill were William Baird, R-Jacksboro; George Fraley, D-Winchester; Joe McCord, R-Maryville; Frank Niceley, R-Strawberry Plains; and John Tidwell, D-New Johnsonville.

Sen. Tommy Kilby, chair of the the Senate environment and conservation committee, has rejected Sen. Raymond Finney's call for a hearing and a vote. More on the Senate action here.

Decisions by the Knoxville Regional TPO influence TDOT planning and affect Blount County. They are seeking input for their long range plan. Go fill out this short survey.

This is the view from the school at Caton's Chapel in Sevier County. This is a crying shame. Fairview Angel--I would have posted this under your "Mountain Rape" entry, but I couldn't get the picture to upload.

This is a stunning reminder of development gone awry. If you stand at the school and look up at this mountain, it is nauseating.

That's what Joe Gallagher says. Commenting on the Children's home controversy, Joe says: "Pure and simple, the developers want the property for commercial use. The Mayor and Chamber (also Economic Development Board), as servants to the developers and bankers -- not the public -- are maneuvering to acquire the property."

He is also critical of the recent sale of the Highway Department property near Hamilton Crossing to the EDB for $3 million, who will in turn sell it to a Knoxville developer. Joe says "I wonder if $3-million is even close to the fair purchase price the County should receive. I believe the property should have been appraised by an independent firm with no ties to Blount County."

Maryville Daily Times

More than 500 people packed the auditorium at Heritage High School Tuesday evening for a public meeting on the proposed extension of the Pellissippi Parkway.

Knoxville News Sentinel

Supporters and opponents of the proposed Pellissippi Parkway Extension jammed the auditorium at Heritage High School Tuesday night for a public hearing on one of the most contentious issues facing Blount County.

WBIR

A standing-room-only crowd of several hundred people flooded Heritage High School's auditorium Tuesday night for the latest details on a proposed Pellissippi Parkway expansion project.

If you did not get to ask your question or submit your comment last night, here is the person to contact at TDOT:

Michael W. Russell, P.E.
TDOT
7345 Region Lane
Knoxville, TN 37914

or

P.O. Box 58
Knoxville, TN 37901

Phone: 865.594.2334
Email: Mike.Russell@state.tn.us

The Pellissippi Parkway Extension is a done deal. The heads of the five families (Blount Co. Mayor, Maryville Mayor, Maryville City Manager, Alcoa Mayor, and Alcoa City Manager) all support it. A massive Chamber of Commerce turnout arrived in Mercedes Benz and wool suits to support it. They are well organized, and shouted down the "antis" at several points.

We're here, will try to live blog if battery and broadband connections hold up and I can work this keyboard all scrunched over.

The Daily Times' editorial Sunday advocating the completion of the Pellissippi Parkway once again resorts to several Big Lies: "A lot of taxpayer money has, we think, been wasted in continued restudying the route just to please a small group of the county's 120,000 residents who oppose and seek to block it for personal reasons."

Actually the "restudying" is being done to please a federal judge who ruled that the initial "study" did not meet the requirements of the law.

The assertion that opponents are acting "for personal reasons" is also inaccurate and based on the same blind devotion to the highway that allows public officials to be in favor of it without knowing what effects it will actually have on the county. By far the majority of opponents of the highway do NOT live in or near its path.

And of course many of the people in favor of the road say they want it because it will make it easier for them to get to work. I guess that is not a "personal" reason. Nor, I guess, is it "personal" for developers and pavers and people who bought land near the first proposed route to favor its being built.

Opponents of the PPE have been very careful to tell the truth and ask for data. Supporters, on the other hand, seem to have different standards.

From the Maryville Daily Times, Maryville Mayor Joe Swann responds to Vulcan threatening the citizens of Maryville with an expensive lawsuit:

"This is a response to the charge that the city of Maryville is 'wasting' money in its lawsuit to prevent the expansion of the quarry owned by Vulcan Materials Inc.," Swann wrote in the letter. "It is the job of the city to enforce its zoning laws and to protect citizens from operations that diminish the quiet enjoyment of their homes and property."

I think the county's plan to choose my paint colors and window treatments for me is a violation of my private property rights: Link...

But just so long as they let me bulldoze the top of the mountaintop flat and take off all the trees so my view in all directions is not obstructed, as well as install security lights that burn all night, I'll go along with it.

2/11/2008 notice of meeting

an ad-hoc committee of the blount county planning commission will
meet from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon in room 433 of the courthouse on thursday, february 14, 2008 to discuss possible ridge-top and hillside
development regulations.

Pellissippi Parkway Extension will not be good for Blount County. Please check out the analysis by The Raven Society here Link... and notice that it is Blount County (not Maryville and Alcoa) which stands to lose if it is built. In addition, there are alternatives that could actually help with traffic (which TDOT admits the PPE will NOT do) and which would not lead to higher taxes and more sprawl.

I challenge opponents of the road to say so on February 19 (or in writing by March 10). Saying so on this blog will NOT be part of the official record and will NOT HELP. The Chamber of Commerce is busy urging people to show up so if you care about this at all, BE THERE!

I challenge supporters of the road to offer evidence that anything in The Raven Society's analysis is incorrect.

Boy, Commissioner/Planning Commissioner Scott Helton doesn't miss a trick when it comes to helping out the Mayor's biggest contributors: (Link...)

This is like a big ole Christmas present to people who already received ill-advised RAC status. Note the key words "AND existing commercial development." (Emphasis mine.) There's a big difference between clustering commercial only at key intersections on 411S and at existing ad-hoc industrial parks/metal dumps all along the "scenic" highway.

The Planning Commission seemed to reach a consensus on language suggested by the Hunter Interests Growth Study to recommend clustering of commercial sites on U.S. 411 by zoning at key intersections and existing areas of commercial development.

County Commissioner Scott Helton didn’t want the language to just include key intersections.

“I just didn’t want us to be handcuffed down there,” Helton said.

The proposal had generated discussion about what direction was wanted for the development of U.S. 411 South.

“We have a desire not to have a strip mall all the way down the road to the county line,” Planning Commissioner Rick Brownlie said.

Yes, Heaven forbid we should limit ourselves to the recommendations we paid so much for.

No truer words were ever spoken, than by Bob Kidd re: the win of Jerry Cunningham in the primary for Mayor: (Link...)

"Tonight was a vote for pro-growth," said Kidd, who did not seek re-election. "Put that in your paper."

SPEAKER: Al Wiberly, a First Friday regular (except for summers when he is in Maine) since our beginning 4 years ago. Al's topic will be THE ENVIRONMENT--the big picture. He will discuss "Why the environment is going to hell."

Friday luncheons are held on the first Friday of the month, 11:30 am at Ryan's Steakhouse at Hunter's Crossing (Walmart) in Alcoa.

Citizen groups are welcome to join us at all First Friday Luncheons. Our programs tend to be non-partisan with an emphasis on good government and honest officials--both elected and appointed

Blount County Democratic Party Friday Luncheon
Ryan's Steakhouse at Hunter's Crossing (Walmart) in Alcoa
11:30AM TO 1:00PM

Maryville Daily Times: New regional development program launched

The Blount County Chamber of Commerce and five other regional economic development agencies have formed Innovation Valley Inc. to encourage successful regional development and bring more businesses to East Tennessee.

An invitation to people concerned about the future livability and economic vitality of our community:

Visions for Blount County's Future: Balancing Growth and Quality of Life

Sunday, January 27, 2 – 3:30 pm
Blount County Library, Sharon Lawson Room

A program sponsored by The Raven Society
Guest speaker: Bridget Jones, Ed.D., Executive Director, Cumberland Region Tomorrow, a non-profit organization working to support and encourage quality growth in a 10-county region of Middle Tennessee through improved planning and coordination between public and private sectors, with emphasis on land use, transportation and rural preservation. Link....

Quality of life is key to both our economic health and our personal well-being. We know that high quality communities do not just happen. They require thought, effort, vision, collaboration and commitment.

Residents of Blount County value the small-town character of their communities and the open landscapes of their rural heritage, yet we must respond to the pressures for intense economic and population growth. The reality is that growth brings costs as well as opportunities. It requires both expensive new infrastructure and improvements to the old.

By planning for growth and guiding it, we can keep and enhance our county’s economic health and also maintain our unique assets.

This program will give an overview of quality growth: what it is, why we need it, and resources to help us plan for it. Please join us for this important program.

You are invited to stay for a brief Raven Society business meeting immediately following. Refreshments will be served.

Please forward this invitation to others. For more information call 256-8262.

Our favorite bank hits the news again!

(Link...)

Better read it quickly before they retract it.

Feb. 19, 2008
5pm
Heritage High School.

TDOT is holding a public meeting regarding the proposed Pellissippi Parkway extension to 321.

TDOT is asking local officials to be present to answer the public's questions.

Thanks to Nina Gregg for her information in comments.

The Daily Times reports today that "Blount receives Preserve America status from Bush."

Well, actually it happened in August. And it was Laura Bush. But the big news is that it's now official. With a sign on 321. And a photo op for Sen. Lamar Alexander and Blount Co. Mayor Jerry Cunningham, the champion of Blount Co. preservation.

All snark aside, it's actually a pretty good program that "encourages and supports community efforts to preserve and enjoy our priceless cultural and natural heritage." It provides federal matching grants to help communities "develop sustainable resource management strategies and sound business practices for the continued preservation and use of heritage assets."

We also get a certificate of recognition and a Preserve America Community road sign.

(The MDT article mentions that 321 and Pellissippi Parkway were the first "Scenic Highways" designated in the state of Tennessee. They forgot to mention that State Sen. Raymond Finney recently got that designation removed for a portion of Pellissippi Parkway in Alcoa to clear the way for development.)

They mined dirt from a ridgetop to fill in wetlands for a WalMart marking lot. Read the story with photos at KnoxViews.

The Yellow Squares are Coal-Fired Steam Power Plants.

Remember that our prevailing Winds are essentially West to East. Weather patterns happening over Nashville, tend to wind up here in a few hours--so do airborne particulates. Notice where the center of the big brown smudge, on the following graphic, lies.

Question: Who here amoung us, can tell me that the Stewardship of this Planet, is someone else's responsibility--not mine, not yours? As we develop this County, should we set an example by raising or lowering our Electrical Demands on the System? Would it be better to put out more and more Street Lights and Security Lights, or throttle back on the ones we already have? 100 Watts here, 100 Watts there, eventually (IM not-so HO) when we dry up all the resevoirs, the population will decrease--rather dramatically, then we won't need Electricity or Security Lights at all--Folks don't live where there's no water. Should we continue on, with the attitude that, it's someone else's problem, and continue the Predatorial Path of Consumption?

Just a thought, I wanted to Pass along, as we all sit cozy 'round the flashing bulbs, and strings of Christmas lights, burning all night long, for no one to see. The anticipatory gaze of our Children on this holy season, should give cause for reflection of our own Carbon footprints, and what we want to pass along to our children.

Planning Commissioner Rick Brownlie, a really terrific guy and one of the bright spots on our planning commission, has initiated a very neat search utilizing the Daily Times: Link...

They want to base their study on one conducted recently from Sevier County (shudder): Link...

“To begin protecting these important resources, one must first identify specific publicly accessible places from which the views of these hillside and ridges are enjoyed. Such places normally include scenic highways, walking trails, scenic lookouts, parks, historic sites and buildings, and canoe and kayak routes.”

So, what views are important to you? Take a few moments and e-mail your thoughts to editor@thedailytimes.com or mail them to Scenic Views, The Daily Times, P.O. Box 9740, Maryville, TN 37803. The suggestions will be provided to the Planning Commission for informational purposes. A top 10 list of most suggested views will be also be published in The Daily Times.

I guess they include these instructions to save "Overlook at Montvale" the ole Ruby Tuesday treatment:

If you have strong feelings about any individual developments in Blount County, feel free to write a letter to the editor.

Just reading the words "Sevier County" in the context of "conservation" makes my blood pressure shoot up:

A guiding principle of the Sevier County study, which can be found online at Link..., was that hillside development should not be completely prohibited. One of the most important recommendations is the principle that all development should be secondary to the surroundings.

I support what they are trying to accomplish. Let's have our own "contest" in parallel. Who wants to start?

I wonder if the Pellissippi Parkway Extension controversy prompted this?

So says the Tennessee Attorney General:

An opinion by Tennessee Attorney General Robert E. Cooper Jr. says that making developers pay for new schools would be a development tax and is not allowed under existing law.

"(S)uch a provision would conflict with both the spirit and the express language of the County Powers Relief Act," the opinion states.

That act prohibits Tennessee counties from enacting new infrastructure taxes or fees, other than an adequate facilities tax in which the county can charge developers up to $1 per square foot for new construction. If a county enacts that tax, it has to eliminate all of its other infrastructure taxes.

[..]

Rutherford County has tried multiple times to get around the County Powers Relief Act, first by asking the attorney general if the county could increase its existing $1,500 per home development tax, then by asking Hood to send a request to Cooper's office to consider whether developers could be required to pay for new schools.

UPDATE: More from the Tennessean.

UPDATE: TN AG Nov. 21st opinion here.

Pellissippi Parkway Extension and "development" are the unstated reason for the interstate, according to a persuasive letter to the Daily Times. Link...

I think Mr. Templeton correctly identifies the real pressures for this project, which of course noone will admit to in public. Since TDOT itself acknowledges that the highway will not make traffic flow any better, what other reasons are there for persuing it?

Last Friday I went to the GSM Sustainable Tourism Townhall which the DT covered here Link...

State Route 321 will be protected from the Loudon County line to the Park

Dr. Van West, Director, Center for Historic Preservation, MTSU did a wonderful job of defining what things can be. From a new cenus of Blount County Century Farms to using those items in our local history that might not be of um, great delight to all.

Below, in five separate posts you will find questions that were presented at the Townhall. Since you most likely could not be there, now is your chance to answer each and every one of these. Please, take the time to answer these and perhaps we can get word to Nashville about what the rest of us want. After all, there were very few people in that meeting who were not wearing suits.