CLB Approves Zoning Ordinance

There were not as many people at the Cocke County Courthouse last night as there was Monday night for the public hearing regarding a proposed zoning ordinance in the county. As of this morning, that proposed ordinance is no longer considered proposed…as the CLB passed the ordinance resolution last night. Several citizens addressed the CLB before their discussions began. The total time for the meeting last night was under an hour.

Commissioner Wilma Ball made a motion to table the discussion as she felt the board was moving too fast on such a big issue. She also noted a forthcoming study regarding zoning being spearheaded by the Cocke County Partnership. Lukas Graham of the partnership stated that the study, which was paid for by a $120,000 grant, would not be completed till sometime in November. Commissioner Andy Ford seconded the motion made by Wilma Ball, but the board voted that motion down by a vote of 10-4. Board Chairman Norman Smith made note that no matter what the board decided, no one was going to be completely happy.

That was when Commissioner Rick Vassar made the motion to vote to approve the zoning ordinance posted on the cockecountytn.gov website. The motion was seconded and after a roll call vote, the motion to pass the zoning ordinance passed by a vote of 10-4. Wilma Ball, Andy Ford, Dan Bright and Bill Miller were the commissioners voting no. Vassar did amend his motion to pass the resolution with the caveat of sending some amendments to the resolution back to the Planning Commission for their approval. The Planning Commission will then have to vote on those amendments for the zoning ordinance to become official.