John Coffelt, Editor

Manchester Planning Commission approved during the Aug. 18 meeting the preliminary plat for a 62-unit subdivision near Creekwood Drive.

Developer Allan Howard will struggle with low elevation on eastern lots of the subdivision that dip below the flood line.

Using a Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill (LOMR-F), Howard will seek FEMA’s modification of the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) shown on the Flood Insurance, filling the low-lying areas according to federal guidelines.

Before any work can begin, the project will need a conditional LOMR (CLOMR) that spells out specific processes to raise the area out of the floodplain. A buffer zone running through the development will border the creek and adjacent river’s floodway.

Surveyor Nicholas Northcutt, representing Howard, told the committee that once the affected lots are raised above flood elevation, no lots in the subdivision will be in the flood plain.

“You have to apply for the LOMR even before you start digging,” he said. “They are part of the compaction testing as you bring it up.”

An additional challenge to planning the development will be engineering the water retention areas that will lie just beyond those fill lots that will taper down toward but will remain out of the buffer area.

“Basically, it’s a pretty challenging site in terms of there’s a lot of offsite water coming through that we’re dealing with,” Northcutt said. “We are not allowed to get into the floodway with any cutting or filling. We are not allowed to get into the buffer area with any cutting or filling.”

Drainage, a hot button topic in the community, must be kept at a rate the same or better as it was before construction began.

Commissioner Cheryl Swann said referring to the subject of water flow, “I think this is a good discussion to have at meetings so people can go and hear this because there’s been a lot of talk. I think these discussions are healthy to have.”

The commission moved to waive the 50-foot right-of-way requirement for a second entrance from Stillwood Road. That entrance, a 40-foot right-of-way, currently serves the Ferrell home. The short section between the two lots on Stillwood is only 40 foot wide. The remainder of the right-of-way inside the subdivision will widen to the required 50 foot.

The development will return to planning once Howard has received a CLOMR for final plat approval.  

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.