The Pigeon Forge Regional Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals met Tuesday, Jan. 25 at 5:30 p.m. Every business or individual that wants to build in the Pigeon Forge area is required to go through this board, so the workload is heavy, and the commission wields great responsibility in light of the incredible growth the county has undergone in recent years.
John Jagger, the Director of the Community Development Division of the Pigeon Forge Department of Public Works, talked to The Herald Newspapers about the Planning Commission members. He has lived in Pigeon Forge for 10 years, has worked with in the Community Development Division for four years. Before that he was involved with the City in the Tourism Department.
According to Jagger, the Pigeon Forge Regional Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals consists of seven good men. These men have been part of the community for most all their lives. Bill Bradley is the Chairman. He works with the City of Pigeon Forge in the utility department. Bill grew up in Pigeon Forge and has deep roots there.
Robert Young, Vice-Chairman has been a member for many years. He is the owner/operator of Hillbilly Village in Pigeon Forge.
Keith Whaley is a local eye doctor who grew up in Pigeon Forge. He joined the Commission because he wanted to become more involved in the community.
Bill Broady is a retired banker. His father was the doctor the establisher of Broady Hospital, helped many indigent people in East Tennessee. Bill and his wife like to travel out west to see their grandchildren in their spare time.
Troy Carr has served on the commission for many years. He was the chairman for about 20 years, and now serves as Secretary. Troy worked for years with the National Park Service. A few years ago he went to work on the administrative staff at Blalock’s doing a little public relations and attending bid openings.
Jerry Clark retired from the Tennessee Department of Transportation. He enjoys being active in community affairs.
Midge Jessiman, who is also in attendance at the meetings, is with the local Planning Division of the Tennessee Department of Community and Economic Development out of Knoxville.
Jagger is enthusiastic about the fact that the commission is sensitive to the problems and circumstances of developers that can “jump up and bite someone.” He said that the main reason that the commission is there is to make sure that city and county laws are obeyed. They also desire to protect the residential communities in Pigeon Forge.
“The commissioners do not receive any pay or benefits, but rather work for the betterment of the community.” Jagger said. “All we do for them is give them a dinner at Christmastime once a year.” He added, “I have never seen them ever act short or rude with people.”
The subject matter considered in the meeting can be divided into six segments: Special Events, Subdivisions, Planned Unit Developments (PUD), Site Plans, Requests for rezoning and the Board of Zoning Appeals.
The following special events were approved:
· M&M Gift Shows, LLC, Music Road Hotel and Convention Center, 314 Henderson Chapel Road, November 2-9, 2005.
· The 5th Annual Smoky Mountain Pontiacs of East Tennessee car show, Music Road Hotel and Convention Center, 314 Henderson Chapel Road, June 3-5, 2005.
· The 15th Annual All Chevy/GMC Truck Nationals, Ramada Inn, 4010 Parkway, May 12-15.
· Southern Leadsled Reunion car show. Ramada Inn, 4010 Parkway, August 26-28
· The 2nd Annual Tanger Outlet Centers 8k Road Race, May 8, 2005.
· The following Subdivisions were approved:
· Resubdivision of Tract 6 of Back Home Hideaway, Lones Branch Lane.
· Resubdivision of Lots 66-68 of Pine Haven Estates, Unit 1, Easy Street.
· Resubdivision of the Clayton and Herbert Napier Property, South River Road.
· Replat of Lots 1-8 and 3R of Jake Thomas Farm, now know as Riverwalk Park, East Terrace, Teaster Lane.
· The following Planned Unit Developments were approved:
· The Ridges PUD, preliminary plan, off of Ridge Road.
· Minor plat revision, Sherwood Forest Resort PUD, Phase 3, Unit 4, Lots 68R-1, 128R, 129R and common areas, off of Rush Branch Road.
· Corrected plat of Smoky Mountain Ridge PUD, Phase 1, Section 1, off of Wears Valley Road.
· Smoky Mountain Ridge PUD, Phase 1, Unit 2, off of Wears Valley Road. This was approved with the condition that certain things would be taken care of within ten days.
Site Plans that were approved are:
· Proposed warehouse building, Lot 11 of Pine Mountain Shadows, Pine Way at Pine Mountain Road.
· Proposed restaurant and retail complex, Parkway to Teaster Lane.
· The following requests for rezoning were approved:
· Robert McManus and Florence Flyn, parkway to Teaster (near CVS Pharmacy), C-4 (Planned Unit Commercial) to C-2 (Tourist Commercial). Work on the building on one lot approved).
· 2036 Ridge Road, R-1 (Low Density Residential) to R-2 (High Density Residential).
The Planning Commission is required by the State of Tennessee to have a certain amount of continuing education annually. A two hour training session will be held on February 10 at 11 a.m. The session will be followed by a specially called meeting of the planning commission with the agenda purpose of addressing business that has been previously discussed, but not decided.
The Board of Zoning Appeals met for a brief period, but the business discussed was withdrawn until a future time.

… read the rest of the story by Subscribing now.

... read the rest of the story by Subscribing now.