Grigsby Park Phase 1 prelim plat approved by FMPC after months of Fuller’s revisions
Following several months of revisions by developer Travis Fuller, a preliminary plat for Grigsby Park Phase 1 was approved by Farragut Municipal Planning Commission Thursday, Nov. 21.
The 17-unit development will be located off Grigsby Chapel Road, across from Wyndam Hall subdivision, and offer attached single-family homes.
Fuller has been working with Town officials and neighboring Westside Unitarian Universalist Church on the plans, as both have asked he protect wildlife and trees.
Initial plans, which called for back entrance alleyways to increase curb appeal, were scrapped in favor of front entrance garage plans eliminating the planned secondary roadway.
“After reviewing this at the Staff/Developer meeting on Oct. 1, it was determined that, for practical reasons and to lessen the area of disturbance, the alleys would be removed,” stated a report from Mark Shipley, Town Community Development director. “The property is topographically challenged for alleys and it was thought that residents would have a more useable and enjoyable backyard if the alleys were removed.”
Additionally, Fuller has been working to address a problem that occurred several months ago, when a handful of trees were removed during the land disturbance permit process, and the contractor also accidentally crossed the Town’s walking trail with a bobcat to access the property and damaged a small section of trail.
Damage also occurred to a portion of WUUC’s property.
In a written commentary, church member Gerald Thornton thanked Fuller for modifying the plan, and asked for consideration of which trees might be replaced and what species might be replacing them.
At the FMPC meeting, Thornton further addressed the issues, noting he was “glad to hear (Fuller) had retained an arborist to help assess the property.”
Fuller, who also was at the meeting, said he was still waiting to hear back from Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation concerning the land disturbance.
He also invited Thornton to attend his upcoming meeting with the arborist.
Wyndham Hall resident Ron Smith addressed the FMPC about the traffic that would likely increase with this project — an issue he had brought up in previous meetings.
“There is already a speeding issue on Grigsby Chapel,” he said. “Two months ago I requested a comprehensive road improvement study on short-, middle- and long-term solutions to the traffic problems on that road.”
Smith said in the short term he would suggest stop signs “at strategic locations on Grigsby Chapel Road,” and possibly “flashing yellow lights near Fretz Road.
“Something needs to be done about the traffic.”
“I think there may be some other options,” FMPC commissioner Noah Myers said. “Maybe we can engage some experts to come up with some solutions, but I don’t want to hold up this project.”
“We are not against the project but are against ... adding developments that bring more traffic to Grigsby Chapel Road without looking at how to improve it,” Smith said.
“We have a lot of HOAs willing to participate in some sort of study, but we need your help. Something’s got to be done,” he added.
