Letter to the editor
I am writing to clear up some incorrect information that was shared in the farragutpress recently. The information confused two different concepts, namely road improvement projects undertaken by the Town as capital improvement projects and zoning laws that govern how citizens can use their property.
First, let’s talk about roads. Road improvement projects are needed to keep our streets safe and provide pedestrians and bicyclists a safe place to travel without being hit by a car. The type of work done on a road depends on how much traffic it carries. You can see Farragut’s Major Road Plan at townoffarragut.org/maps. The Town has maintained a single set of standards for sidewalks, grass strips, etc., that go with all road improvement projects. Recently, the Community Development Department has taken a closer look at some less-traveled roads to see if the standard improvements could be scaled down to better fit the character of each neighborhood. This will result in much narrower road designs with less impact on residents.
It’s important to note that road design projects involve opportunities for public input from affected property owners, and there are no plans for a 25-foot grass strip or “taking” anyone’s property. These are simply inaccurate statements.
The Town's zoning districts divide land into specific categories (like residential, commercial, agricultural, etc.) to regulate different kinds of development that is allowed by the citizens who own the land. Each district has rules regarding land use, building height, density, etc., and regulations are enforced uniformly within each district. Zoning districts can be amended to encourage specific kinds of development, but amendments require a hearing and recommendation by the Municipal Planning Commission and a hearing and approval by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. As always, the public is invited to provide feedback at various points throughout this process.
Additionally, it’s clear that there is still confusion about a possible amendment to the Town’s Home Occupation Ordinance, which hasn’t been amended in 20 years. The Town is still in the process of revising the ordinance. This is a good place to remind everyone that the best way to stay informed about any of these topics is to sign up to receive meeting agendas on the Agenda Portal at townoffarragut.org and/or attend meetings. Live meetings and recordings of past meetings are also available on the Agenda Portal.
Finally, I am proud that the Town has a clear process for traffic to address speeding in neighborhoods. Resident feedback is critical in these instances and it’s important that we hear from each of you when making decisions about important safety improvements in our community.
Town of Farragut
Mayor Ron Williams
