John Coffelt, Editor

A major preliminary plat was approved by the Coffee County Planning Commission for a 39-lot development on Old Airport Road during a long and at times emotional meeting on Jan. 28.  

The approval is the first step in the proposed development by Nick Graham and the MANN Trust that was strongly opposed by some members of the community who voiced concerns about the trend of the county losing farmland.

Quinn Sullivan of the group SaveCoffeeCountyTN.com said the development would change the whole fabric of the area.  

 “People are against this development,” he said. “We have several issues with this plat. For years I’ve been trying to get water on Little Mountain Road. We cannot get a water line on (that) road, but yet they can propose a 39 unit housing up the road.”

 “It is our opinion that the county has not met its obligation to its existing residents of this county, why would you consider supplying water to 39 people that don’t live there yet. They may be from California, Illinois, Florida; I’m more concerned with our residents.”  

County Codes Inspector Terry Floyd, speaking as a Hillsboro resident outside his official capacity, said the development would “open the floodgate for growth in the (agricultural) area.”

“Either we get to continue our farmland in these rural areas, or what’s going to happen, if this is said yes to, is every sod farm around the A-1 area will be overcome by housing,” Floyd said.  

“To me the tranquility and peace of that area is going to be lost,” he said.

Local resident Shawn Jones voiced concerns about how the development could impact farming in the area.

“We have enough issues now trying to move equipment…” he said. “They are going to have to do something with the roads and the water.”

“It affects me and everyone in this room. I have a petition with over 800 signatures on it. To me, numbers should speak,” he said. “When is enough enough? Our county is being destroyed every day by housing.” 

Surveyor Nicholas Northcutt, representing the developer, said that while the zoning resolution that defines the area, A-1 Agricultural, designates its primary use for farming, the code also allows for residential development.

“Our zoning laws do not preclude residential development in an A-1 zone,” he said. “An A-1 zone is not strictly for agriculture or none of you that live in that area would be able to live in that area.”

The commission, while voicing appreciation for the point of view of those who spoke, unanimously approved the plat on the grounds that it meets all the zoning ordinance requirements. 

Quoting the state growth plan, Planning Commission Chairman Steve Cunningham said, “The committee interpreted the uses other than high density development to allow random subdivision development as occurred throughout the county…the quantity and size of zoning developments to be controlled by zoning procedures.”

“So there can be subdivisions in the rural area,” he summarized.

Planning member Rodney Duncan commended the speakers’ willingness to step outside their comfort zone to go before the board to share their concerns.

“I feel you,” Duncan said, acknowledging that he too resides in a rural area of the county and voicing his regret for not purchasing property in his area that was later developed.

“However, when we are up here we have to decide what is best for the 56,000 taxpayers too,” he said. “Do all the 56,000 taxpayers want me to get them sued (for what amounts to illegally blocking a development). There are laws and if (the project) meets the laws … there’s not much you can do.”

Regarding the infrastructure argument, Duncan said government cannot build schools, water and roads for what is perceived will be needed. Government plans for what is there. 

“As for infrastructure, no city builds it before they come,” he said. “…the reason being if you’re going to need a road, instead of 100 people paying for that road, you want 150 people paying for it when the need is here.” 

Cunningham said that as a farmer he shares a desire to preserve farmland.

“But we can’t disallow this subdivision for changes in the code that we would like to make. We have to go by what we’re looking at today.”

Cunningham said he will recommend before Planning recommended changes to expand side, front and rear setbacks to 50-foot in areas without adequate fire flow and restrictions that would only allow subdivision access roads to feed onto major roadways.

Those recommendations would then need to go before the County Commission, the governing body that passes county zoning resolutions.  

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.