The Lenoir City Council flew through a number of agenda items at their Monday meeting on March 11, including ordained road closures and rezonings on Old Highway 95.
New Guidelines from Lenoir City Planning
The first item on the agenda was set to adopt several ordinances pertaining to buildings and utilities, streets and sidewalks, water and sewers as well as electricity and gas.
First on the list was the gas code, which provides a more rigid outline for the way gas is used in commercial and residential spaces. According to the documents presented to council by Lenoir City Utilities Board Director Leon Shields, the document serves to “provide minimum standards, provisions and requirements for safe installation of consumer s gas piping and gas appliances.” The document also stated that piping installed prior to the adoption of this code could require further inspection, should it be deemed necessary.
Another highlighted addition said that citizens were not to install a number of different gas-powered appliances without first receiving a permit from the city recorder. The list of appliances included conversion burners, floor furnaces, wall furnaces, water heater and boilers.
Another highlighted segment in the packet detailed the relationship between public streets and utilities. In chapter 3, section 16-303, the document states that utilities from any department within Lenoir City were not to be laid on roads not accepted as a public street. This included the implementation of water, sewer, gas or electric lines.
The remainder of the document mostly detailed payment guidelines as drafted by the planning commission in Feb. of 2013. The ordinance passed through unanimously.
Road Closures Planned
The next highlight came from Loudon County Chamber of Commerce President Rodney Grugin. Grugin, on behalf of the Downtown Merchants Association, proposed a few periods of road closures over the spring and summer months to assist in the logistics of the group’s events. Grugin said that he planned to work in conjunction with the Lenoir City Police Department, as well as the Street Department in an effort to better facilitate traffic and regulations.
“I think anything we can do to revitalize Downtown and help bring more people there is great,” said Councilmember Robin McNabb, “I would vote that this be approved.”
The closures proposed would take place on three different dates.
Saturday, April 12, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Broadway from Kingston Street to C Street and Depot Street from Nelson Street to Roane State parking lot entrance. This is for the Spring Fling Event.
Friday, May 16, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. of Broadway from Kingston Street to C Street and Depot Street from Nelson Street to Roane State parking lot entrance. This is for the Nights on Broadway Event.
Friday, June 20 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Broadway from Kingston Street to C Street and Depot Street from Nelson Street to Roane State parking lot entrance. This is for the Nights on Broadway Event.
Council voted unanimously to approve these closures in alignment with Grugin’s plans for downtown development in the coming months.
Rezones Plan For More Residents
The last major item on the normal agenda pertained to a new rezoning brought to Council by Beth Collins of the Lenoir City Planning Commission.
The proposal would have properties located at Kirk Avenue and Old Highway 95 repurposed from highway commercial districts to medium density residential districts. The proposal was initially brought to the Commission by the owner of the property, who expressed interest in building single-family homes on the current lot. Collins said that the Planning Commission passed the proposal unanimously.
The new district is small, with Collins stating that the owner (who was absent from Monday’s meeting) is only looking to erect two to four homes on the lot. The minimum lot size for a single family home under these guidelines is 7,125 square feet.
Council voted the proposal through, with the only dissenting vote coming from Councilmember Robin McNabb.
Lenoir City Council will reconvene for their next regular meeting on Monday, March 24.
