letter to the editor
Letter inaccuracies addressed
To the Editor:
I was disturbed by the serious inaccuracies in Sean Murphy’s letter to the editor in last week’s farragutpress. It is clear that Mr. Murphy conducted no actual research to back up his claims. The title of the letter is “Improve ‘how things are done’ in Town,” yet he pursues a culture of contempt for the Town in his approach and presents nothing meaningful or correct to either identify a specific problem or offer any ideas to address it.
He would rather whine than put forth a problem statement supported by facts and concrete ideas for improvement. I am sure the Town officials, Town staff and the citizens would welcome any meaningful, constructive thoughts and ideas as this has been the foundation for the Town since its inception.
As for specifics, it is absurd to suggest that it is not appropriate for a town to initiate zoning changes. For a town to be entirely reactive rather than proactive is irresponsible. The Town created the zoning in the first place. To assume that the resulting zoning is then unchangeable by the Town is nonsense. Were we really supposed to wait for a property owner to request changes to remove apartments as a permitted use from a particular zoning district when the citizens of the Town have made it abundantly clear they don’t want more apartments? Were we supposed to wait for a property owner to suggest updates to our PCD district to bring clarity to the intent to follow the approved development plan? Or even to add a Public Tree Care Ordinance?
I highly suggest anyone who is interested in how our Town operates watch the March 24 Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting, you can find it on the Town’s YouTube channel. Vice Mayor [Louise] Povlin outlines how the Town of Farragut derives all its powers from Tennessee Code and what some of those powers are. Many of the other inaccuracies in Mr. Murphy’s letter were addressed during the Citizen’s Forum portion of the meeting.
Mr. Murphy contends that ”Farragut has needed a professionally designed plan for 20 years” and that “previous administrations have failed to do this.”
This is ridiculous. We have a professionally developed land use plan that has included citizen input from the beginning. As evident by recent sector meetings, the public has been involved to provide input to keep the land use plan a viable living document and one that protects existing neighborhoods from incompatible development.
With regard to his being “perplexed” as why the item regarding the First Baptist Church wanting to install lights on their sports fields is “still being considered,” and that “established laws and protocols require the Town to deny the lighting” since the neighborhoods were there first. The First Baptist Church has a right to request text amendments to an ordinance and the right to due process to have their request heard under the law. Also, by the same due process under the law, the neighborhood residents have the right to argue their points of view as well. To imply that laws and protocols are not being followed is a baseless argument. The fact is this item has not become before the Planning Commission for further discussion or a vote, nor has it gone to the Mayor and the Board.
I do not know how long Mr. Murphy has lived in Farragut or Tennessee, but he does not understand Farragut government or municipal governance in the state of Tennessee. Farragut is following the law, proper procedures and best practices.
Ed St. Clair,
Farragut resident and Farragut Municipal
Planning Commission vice chair
