The new zoning ordinance and land use plan that has been worked on for a year was passed on second and final reading at the Red Bank Commission meeting Tuesday night. The vote that was followed by applause was four to one in favor of adopting the new regulations with only Commissioner Rick Causer voting no.
There are multiple purposes for updating these codes, officials said.
Zoning is used to put land to the use for which it is best suited, including future land use planning. Proper zoning will protect or maintain property values by assuring that incompatible uses will be kept apart. It also provides for orderly development because the regulations pertaining to lot size, set back lines, building height and population density can make areas more attractive. It is also seen as a factor to attract businesses and industry to the area, it was stated.
A rezoning issue that was discussed at the Feb. 3 commission meeting was approved on second and final reading on Tuesday despite a number of Red Bank citizens that came to the meeting asking for a delay of the vote. Twenty four townhomes have been planned for a tract of land located on Pinebreeze Road which would require changing the zoning designation from single family residential (R-1) to residential townhomes (RT-1). The developer George Bock brought the architect and engineer to present the plan to the commission.
The architect’s rendering showed eight buildings, each designed to hold three units. The individual buildings will vary from single story to two stories because of the contours of the property. The ones fronting Pinebreeze Road will have garages that are entered from the rear of the buildings. There will be three access roads leading from Pinebreeze that will serve all the buildings. The exteriors will be constructed with Hardie Board siding in combination with either mountain stone or brick. The architect said it will be a quality development.
Opposition centered on the impact of increasing traffic on a curvy, hilly road which the residents consider dangerous already. The unanimous vote to grant the zoning change is just the first step, they were told and the development would still have to go through the planning commission for approval. Fifteen days prior to that meeting, notification will be made to the property owners nearby the parcel in question including Dr. David Bruce whose property is adjacent to the development and who has come to the past two meetings seeking changes to the plans as presented.
Acceptance of a $35,000 grant from Homeland Security from the state of Tennessee, was approved that will benefit both the police and fire departments. The money will be split between them with $30,000 being used for the purchase of in-car tablets for the police department and $5,000 to purchase a mobile radio for the fire department.
Authorization was also given for the city to apply for a community development block grant that would provide funds for sewer rehabilitation to an area between Memorial Drive and East Midvale Avenue. The grant, if received, will be for $525,000. The actual cost of the project will be $1, 225,000. What is not covered with grant money will be paid by the WWTA. It was said that this project will increase the pipe size and increase flow.
The current ordinance dealing with the sewers in Red Bank is outdated, said City Manager Randall Smith. The commission passed an ordinance designed to clean up and reconcile that old ordinance, with current conditions. It also clarifies the fact that although the sewer system has been assigned to The WWTA, the city always reserves the right to regulate and manage sewage issues if the WWTA fails to do so.
An agreement was also authorized with 3M Company in the amount of $87,495 to provide “retro reflectivity sign management.” The Federal Highway Administration has developed certain standards and the city is not yet in full compliance. Initially, the company employees will drive around town to survey the signs and provide a complete inventory. Additionally, it will provide the means by which the city can maintain and manage signs by itself in the future.