Two items on the agenda of the Pigeon Forge City Commission workshop and an item from the floor got entangled together as the range of issues about Waldens Creek Road collided. Commissioners had to sort out what needed to be done first as the conversation covered widening the road, adding a turn lane for Pigeon Forge Primary, the sewer line right-of-way for the planned Pigeon Forge Intermediate School, zoning changes at the intersection with Goose Gap Road, annexation around the proposed school site, flood levels and drainage issues.
The list of players included the city commissioners, Superintendent of Schools Jack Parton, Community Development Director John Jagger, Terry Grubb and Mark Miller on the engineering side, city attorney Jim Gass on the liability issues, residents of the area in favor of annexation and a cell phone call to County Roads Supervisor Jonas Smelser.
It was decided that the process would take several phases to keep things in order. Within the next 30-60 days Grubb’s office will do a hydrology study to establish the flood line for the area. The FEMA maps closest point of study is at the bridge where Waldens Creek meets Wears Valley Road. That study will allow planning for work on adding a turn lane and developing some ideas on solving the problem with standing water on the road. That problem can force the primary school to close which results in a school system closure according to Parton. The study will also give the base line level for height of the new intermediate school as well as businesses that are planning to move into the area if they get a zoning change.
The second step would be the addition of the turn lane for the Primary school and some work on improving the road’s drainage. The Commission voted to allow Wilbur Smith and Associates to survey the area and develop a plan for the new lane, a process which will take two weeks. An oral commitment from the meeting would indicate that crews from the City of Pigeon Forge and Sevier County might work together to get the turn lane in as soon as possible. The lane would extend from the school’s driveway as far back as Goose Gap Road. Cost of the project could be greatly influenced by the willingness of landowners along the road to give rather than sell land for the new right-of-way.
At least one of the owners has good reason to be cooperative, as the city approved his request for a zoning change of R-1 to C-3. Two grandfathered businesses on adjoining sites are still R-1 from annexation.
Long-term study would be phase three. Solid answers to flooding concerns and traffic flow with two schools on the road along with the growing number of rental properties and subdivision development. Mixed into the process is the annexation of several tracts including the site of the proposed school. The additional tracts have right-of-way needed for the sewer extension. Tony Rast, Jr. has come forward and offered to pay for a portion of the extension now which would save both the city and school board some money in their traditional cost sharing of such utility projects for schools. Rast property annexation was approved and improves Rast’s developments as they will be in the city and can get federal flood insurance.

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