Resident’s concerns postpone preliminary plat consideration
Farragut Municipal Planning Commission voted to postpone action for 30 days on a proposed preliminary plat for Westerly subdivision, which abuts Fox Den subdivision behind Dollar General Store, after hearing a resident’s concerns during its meeting Thursday, June 16.
Batson, Himes, Norvell & Poe, the developers, are planning to build 12 residential lots on three parcels, consisting of 8.74 acres, zoned R-1 and R-2 to the north and west of Dollar General Store near the intersection of Kingston Pike and Old Stage Road. Community Development director Mark Shipley said the residential areas abut Fox Den subdivision.
Farragut resident Stacy Walters asked FMPC to reconsider an entrance/exit location off Champions Point depicted on a preliminary plat proposed for the subdivision.
“We live directly across the street from the proposed entrance to this subdivision,” she said. “We have serious concerns in that the proposed entrance to this subdivision poses a significant safety concern.
“The hill that goes down to the north, there is a line-of-sight issue where, if you are traveling southbound on Champions Point, there is space where the person either pulling in or out of that subdivision — or the person making a left into that subdivision — cannot see the driver traveling southbound on Champions Point,” Walters added.
Walters added she and her husband also are guarded when pulling out of their driveway. “We’re asking the entrance to be relocated further south,” she said.
”The residential-zoned portion of this has fairly limited amount of frontage on Champions Point,” Shipley said.
“The discussion back when the concept was reviewed was whether the applicant could work out a deal (with another property owner) to require part or all of the property to the south so the entrance could be shifted further to the south,” he added, also noting the only place the entrance/exit road can come out is directly across from an existing Fox Den residence.
“The applicant did indicate during a staff developer meeting May 31 they had talked with that property owner to the south and haven’t been able to come to an agreement on the price that person’s apparently wanting (for the property’s purchase),” Shipley said. “So (the developers are) kind of limited on access points.
“They really can’t shift it further north because the sight distance gets worse.”
After a lengthy discussion, FMPC postponed action, asking to look at more measures to “increase safety metrics.”
“I’m not opposed to the plan, but I’m concerned about safety,” Commissioner Noah Myers said.
Some Commissioners suggested placing a road through the commercial portion of the property to access Kingston Pike.
While a prior preliminary plat shows plans for a commercial development, Shipley said the developers chose to only develop the residential portion at this time.
“To come through a commercial location is not unheard of,” noted Mayor Ron Williams, who serves on FMPC.
In other action, the Commission:
• Chose Farragut High School senior Hailey Sims as a new youth representative to serve on FMPC while saying farewell to Henry “Hank” Standaert, who served this past school year. He will be leaving to attend Emory University, where he will be studying political science. Sims will be featured in a future article.
• Approved site plans for remodels and expansions of the Casey Convenience Stores at 701 N. Campbell Station Road and 13061 Kingston Pike, near Watt Road.
