Public Hearings held

Two public hearings were held concurrently Monday night with the Pigeon Forge City Commission meeting. The hearings were regarding the rezoning of two different pieces of property. A property located on Ridge Road owned by Ed Bohanan and others from R-1 (Low Density Residential) district to the R-2 (High Density Residential) district; and a piece of property located between the Parkway and Teaster Lane owned by Three Pigeons, LLC, from the C-4(Planned Unit- Commercial) district to the C-2 (Tourist Commercial) district. Dr. Joann Trentham presented the commissioners with the 2004 report for the Pigeon Forge Public Library. Ralph Chance, Mayor of Pigeon Forge, displaying leadership skills, led the commissioners rapidly through a long list of Ordinances that were before the group for consideration. Some of the highlights of the meeting were the area approved for rezoning; an ordinance amendment that altered the size of stair-step treads and rises; an ordinance amendment to change building height requirements from 80 to 85 feet; and an ordinance to annex 43 acres owned by the Fairway Development Group into the Corporate limits of the City of Pigeon Forge. First readings of two partial street closings were approved by the commissioners, one was a portion of Oldham Drive, and the other was to close a portion of Parlin Drive. Commissioner Bill Maples asked those responsible if they had spoken to area neighbors about the closings. When the answer was affirmative, he asked that they provide verification so that the commissioners would be aware that the neighbors had, indeed, been notified. The Commissioners were cordial and to the point, verifying throughout the process, that the many issues had been talked out in the Planning Commission meetings regarding the ordinances brought for approval. Wednesay’s issue of the Smoky Mountain Herald will contain further details of the meeting.