John Coffelt, Editor

Manchester City Schools presented a site plan at the Sept. 15 Manchester Planning Commission meeting for an addition to the Parks Street facility that houses Central Office.

Joe Haddix of Heritage Civil Engineering said that the addition will include more space for the 18-20 employees to be located there.

The 6,000 square foot addition will also include a board room for the Manchester Board of Education that currently meets at the former central office location on E. Fort Street.

The Parks Street building, formerly the Manchester Coffee County Health Department, is located over four feet into the front setback area, so a variance request will go before the Manchester Board of Zoning Appeals for that issue and for a landscape barrier variance to allow for two additional parking spaces.

City Engineer Adam Carter suggested a punch list item that would make part of the drive one-way due to the width of the drive.

The Planning Commission approved the site plan, with Vice Mayor Mark Messick voicing concern that the MCS budget and the city’s budget do not include capital project funds for the expansion.

“I’m not happy with the way this was done,” Messick said. “I lectured two aldermen the other day how this committee was not supposed to be political. And I’m not going to make it political because I’m going to vote the way I should on this.”

Messick said he intended to vote against it when the matter comes before the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

Country Club subdivision approved

The construction plans for Phase II of the Walnut Grove subdivision were also approved during the meeting that will add about 10 homes to the subdivision on Country Club Drive.

The subdivision is zoned R-4 high density residential, but the owner, Scot St. John, has designed the phase with lot sizes that are more consistent with lower density zoning.

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.