Residents unhappy at Pigeon Forge meeting

Local residents were upset Tuesday evening at the Pigeon Forge Planning Commission meeting. The residents, led by Rich Leone, protested that a planned Henderson Road PUD was being considered for an area that was not zoned for commercial development. The Planning Commission responded to the irate display by delaying approval of the site in order to consider the issues fairly. Developer Michael O’Bryant submitted a revised preliminary plan for the Henderson Road PUD, also on Meadowbrook Drive and Hickory Lane. Leone said that the residents in the neighborhood have called everyone they knew to call, to let them know that their neighborhood is zoned R-1, which restricts commercial development. He said that even though the city map has the area rated as an R-2, it is wrong. Leone said he has addressed the issue at various commission meetings since 1985, but nothing has been done. According to Leone, at a meeting in 1985, he was told that the map would be changed, but it hasn’t been according to Leone. He said the neighboring residents have “watched that property like a hawk.” John Jagger, Director of the Community Development Division of the Pigeon Forge Department of Public Works, agreed to look into the situation for the residents. The commission voiced their concern over the problem and said that they could not approve the Henderson Road PUD until the issues were resolved. The commissioners approved a Workshop Tools, Inc. tent sale, Grand Rod Run car shows, the 23rd Annual Shades of the Past car show, and a presentation by the First Baptist Church of Irvine, Kentucky that will take place in Patriot Park. The Citizens National Bank withdrew a Relay for Life fundraiser from consideration. The Parkway subdivision development of the Collier Development Company was approved. Subdivisions were denied on the Denton Road property of S.E. King and the subdivision property of Mr. And Mrs. Bobby Hughes on Pine Mountain Road. The commission approved several Planned Unit Developments (PUD). A final plan of a PUD on Ridge Road called the Ridgetop Resort was approved, as was the final plat of the Black Bear Ridge PUD off of Rush Branch Road and the Bear Creek Crossing PUD final plat for Phase 3 off of S. New Era Road. The River Stone Resort PUD consideration was deferred to the next Planning Commission meeting because Jagger had just been given the plans the day before and had not had sufficient time to review them. BB&T received approval for bank reconstruction on 3416 S. River Road. They will demolish the present facility, set up a temporary bank, and remove the temporary bank on or before the day that the new bank will open. They estimate that it will take approximately six months to build the new bank facility. Site plans were approved for Creekview Campground on Henderson Springs Road. A preliminary review was conducted by the commission on a revised McManus restaurant and retail complex on Parkway to Teaster Lane. Mike Lawson, appeared as a representative for the developer, William Steverson. No action was taken. Elwin Horne of Middle Creek Road received approval for rezoning from R-1 (Low density residential) to C-2 ( Tourist commercial). River Stone Resort PUD, located at 202 Dollywood Lane was approved for zoning changes from a R-2 (High Density Residential) to C-2 (Tourist commercial). The Riverwalk Hills Townhomes, LLC, received approval on their request to raise the maximum height in the C-4 district from 70 feet to 85 feet. The next step that will be pursued is a public hearing for the local residents to voice any approval or concerns on this amendment. The Collier Development Company received approval to rezone the property in the vicinity of the Mountain Valley Vineyards at 2174 Parkway from C-4(Planned Unit-commercial) and R-1(Low density residential) to C-2(Tourist commercial). Part of their land was on a recent annexation, and this zoning change would put all of their land at the same zoning rate. The Condos at Pigeon Falls was denied a zoning change because the commission was concerned that the request was premature. The commission said that they would reconsider the site at a later time when there was more developed on it. The commission approved a request by Sevier Solid Waste, Inc. to close and abandon a portion of Parlin Street for the purpose of developing the land into a Sevier County Emergency Services Training Facility over a period of time. David Ogle received an approval to close off a dead end portion of Oldham Street. Mountain Reflections, LLC received a deferral to their request that 345 acres of their land adjoining the southeastern city limits be annexed into the city. The commissioners and city staff, along with city engineers, want to move forward in discussions with the developers to consider all that would be involved in the annexation. The issues of utilities, especially water was especially of concern. A request for the annexation of a 43 acre parcel of land off of McMahan Hollow Road was approved. Half of the land was already in the city, the annexation allows all of the land to be in the city. The consideration of an amendment to the subdivision regulations regarding lot frontage, depth and access, prepared by the staff was withdrawn. The Board of Zoning Appeals met directly after the Planning Commission meeting. They performed an administrative review of the timeframe and conditions for a temporary facility a the BB&T Bank reconstruction at 3416 S. River Road. It was approved. The request for a front yard setback variance on 513 Sharon Drive by Keith Shults was withdrawn.