New FBC plan to close Old Belleaire Drive; BOMA OKs 4-1
First Baptist Concord has a new plan in keeping with the closing of old Belleaire Drive, seeking to construct a new access/exit road to line up with Russgate Boulevard, with construction starting — subject to Town approval — no later than July 2024 and be completed no later than Dec. 31, 2024.
Meanwhile, church officials said it has been using Old Belleaire Drive as a access to FBC for the last 15 years.
With more than 20 church members attending, Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted 4-1 to approve the eventual closing of Old Belleaire during the Board’s meeting Thursday, Aug. 10, despite arguments from a couple of residents to close the road immediately.
As was made clear by David Smoak, Town administrator, the FBC construction plan would first have to gain approval from Farragut Municipal Planning Commission before being presented to BOMA.
A motion was made by Alderman David White — who cast the dissenting vote — to close the road immediately and not prior to the proposed construction, citing safety issues.
“We have every right to close it,” White said. “The (FBC) report to the Board is misleading, at best, and just plain wrong in some places. It is not now and it never was an entrance to First Baptist (Concord). It has always been, and still is, a Belleaire (subdivision) entrance.
“The first temporary access was awarded to Belleaire subdivision because it was the only way they could get to their homes when the church bought all that property and wanted to put in a new Belleaire Drive” in 2008, he added.
“The second temporary access was awarded for the construction of (Concord Christian) School, but the entrance remains the old Belleaire subdivision (road).”
White contended old Belleaire Drive is dangerous because of its proximity to new Belleaire Drive.
“I think it’s the right vote,” FBC member Becky Creswell said after the meeting. “I think the church is trying to honor the commitment that was made in the most timely manner.”
Going back to 2008 when new Belleaire Drive was first being planned, Smoak said “there was significant discussion (of) eventually lining up the access of old Belleaire Drive with Russgate Boulevard to the north
“As of today, this access alignment has not occurred and the temporary access to Kingston Pike ... is still being utilized by the church,” he added.
