[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6473511,"mediaKeyId","5745001-06f472de655d1d7b5702ee33d3548452","parentId",5745001,"title","Council opens application process for East District vacancy and names Powers vice mayor","audioSeconds",697,"startMs",488000,"endMs",1185000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5745001-06f472de655d1d7b5702ee33d3548452&start=488&end=1185","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5745001-06f472de655d1d7b5702ee33d3548452/thumbnail_488000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6473511/Bristol-City/Sullivan-County/Tennessee/Council-opens-application-process-for-East-District-vacancy-and-names-Powers-vice-mayor","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6473511-78acd0ecbeaf4245da71e207eee8ec88/orig.mp4?Expires=1773579214&Signature=SP9UTxtmIs0oetz9sgeg-12bI1aFGptAgl-3du6YNgD7s4ruU7Jeqa9Mi8tzy4bmVfO1ZN6nKEPpB5bT0EbWlJ0qo9zCGeoX7VyCMaJ7eiLSuMi8a7f5nau9ArQ2GmnBznjVyW4ksLGAjFeGzLiGf5ZaEoADaoNQkLF2m9xmalDo6Mg-udzF7IESewM67Qa-HpOfkmKlLY3uoRdwJWiwPSKsiMa4lUDE6AXCxOBNah5rqGWf3uPc32~razt2NGLHR8fi9D~EUyECzdlywz3fJUxXH3-YJ31XzlNDbOIkcbpAcsTxXrXZlbwO9IM215WlVfeGDKjlheEU2p8RrQoTAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bristol City","date","2025-09-09T21:22:36Z","article","At its Sept. 9 meeting the Bristol Tennessee City Council declared the East District council seat vacant following the Sept. 2 resignation of Councilman Mark Hutton and outlined an application-based appointment process the council may use to fill the seat. The council also unanimously selected Councilwoman Powers to fill the vice mayor role for the remainder of the unexpired term.

City staff presented a proposed timeline that would post an application beginning Sept. 10, keep the application open through Sept. 25, review applications at the Sept. 30 work session and, if desired, hold interviews and a called meeting immediately after the work session to make a formal appointment. The selected appointee would be sworn in at the Oct. 7 regular meeting unless the council needed the appointee to take action before that date; in that case the appointee could be sworn in earlier. Staff said applicants must reside in the East District and that standard background and residency checks would be performed.

“Council has 30 days to fill that position,” staff said, describing the charter requirement and the interchangeable options for the council to follow either a formal application-and-interview process or a less formal selection process.

Council discussed logistics of interviews and noted interviews held as a group must be posted as public meetings, while one‑on‑one conversations are permitted. Council members asked staff to post the application widely, including on social media, and to circulate incoming applications promptly so council members could review and reach out as needed.

Separately, the council selected Councilwoman Powers as vice mayor to serve the remainder of the term. Powers accepted the nomination, saying, “I’m filling a term until January 1, so, yes, I’m good with that.” A roll call recorded the vote as unanimous in favor of her selection.

Next steps: staff will post application materials and process background checks; council will consider applications at its Sept. 30 work session and may hold a called meeting to make a formal appointment before the Oct. 7 swearing-in if council requires immediate voting capacity from the appointee.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Bristol Tennessee City Council Meeting - September 9th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Following Councilman Hutton’s Sept. 2 resignation, council declared the East District seat vacant, set a proposed application timeline and unanimously selected Councilwoman Powers to serve as vice mayor for the remainder of the term.","taxTitle","Bristol City, Sullivan County, Tennessee","taxId",3777,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6473516,"Council enacts 2-year data‑center moratorium, updates sign and junkyard rules; several resolutions approved",0,4693000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5745001-06f472de655d1d7b5702ee33d3548452&start=4693&end=4693","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5745001-06f472de655d1d7b5702ee33d3548452/thumbnail_4693000.jpg","/articles/6473516/Bristol-City/Sullivan-County/Tennessee/Council-enacts-2-year-datacenter-moratorium-updates-sign-and-junkyard-rules-several-resolutions-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6473516-a22e5a29e408abb47d3d3746c8a56b82/orig.mp4?Expires=1773579214&Signature=TiSn0hmx~zTLjynqJDzywKUh4WhdXNauFn87Gm2BA657EkagwZXbnWIBalPPTSQ-euLperRPFHnug5Ss4DhrQMVw7GzVtJNJtYWAfE4JETJAAjWSd4aaN4fEoGQnfTAOM20JPSISX0z7pxDhb-PsLFoR2ZA7zqYr9-Q1farVrLHD87rhppWaPWL-phEtTmXiUAZBg9GhfdmXDXHn5pZjVA5-aH~xKBMxl95EmkssIzszTZ18Eath-GQsqMfwmlazXZYrforyoDyQvEaV3npJPQmFIIw2uZAgpGnNDNRAIkehD4VvEEpb2rWGkxOcFyyosOyap8OdIL-JYm2pD0eFww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bristol Tennessee City Council on Sept. 9 approved multiple ordinances and resolutions after brief public hearings and staff presentations. Key actions included a two-year moratorium on new data centers, clarifying edits to the city sign ordinance, and expanded rules addressing junk, debris and wrecked vehicles on commercial corridors. The council also approved a set of routine resolutions including adjustments to municipal court costs and setting public hearings for a small annexation.

Below is a concise list of each item with outcome, vote and key detail.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 25-20 — Temporary moratorium on establishment of data centers (2 years): Passed (roll call recorded as unanimous). Reason: planning commission recommended a moratorium to allow staff and commissioners time to research impacts and define data-center uses.

- Ordinance 25-17 — Amendments to sign regulations (clarifying post-sign height and limiting post signs to one per parcel for multi-tenant centers): Passed (unanimous on second reading). Staff noted changes are minor clarifications timed to go into effect Oct. 1 and emphasized outreach to businesses about the new rules.

- Ordinance 25-21 — Amend chapter 38 (operation of junkyards): Passed (unanimous on second reading). The amendment adds definitions, requires fencing or hedged buffers around wrecked-vehicle/junk storage areas and prohibits storage on sidewalks or in the right-of-way.

- Ordinance 25-19 — Rezoning request for 2308 Glenwood Road (Turnkey Foundation Precast Inc., request to rezone R-2 to M2): Planning Commission had issued an unfavorable recommendation; council accepted the planning commission recommendation (motion to accept negative recommendation carried), effectively killing the rezoning at first reading.

- Ordinance 25-18 — Zoning of recently annexed 85-acre BTS parcel as M2 (covered in separate article): Passed 3–1.

- Resolution 25-153 — Set public hearings for proposed annexation of 140 Sweet Knobs Trail (owner consent, plan of services): Approved (unanimous); property about 6 acres and staff proposed contiguous B3 zoning in the draft plan of services.

- Resolution 25-154 — Adjust municipal court costs to reflect state litigation fee increase (raise municipal court cost to $53.50 so total case cost becomes $81): Approved (unanimous). Staff explained the state litigation fee rose from $1 to $2 and the municipal cost was adjusted to reduce refunds from overpayments.

- Resolution 25-155 — Grant Bristol City Schools extension to accept property transfer at 511–515 Melrose St.: Approved (unanimous), extending the deadline to Sept. 30 per the school board’s request.

- Consent agenda (minutes, equipment purchases, water‑works budget amendment and routine bid awards): Approved (unanimous).

Council members and staff said several measures were procedural clarifications intended to improve enforcement and communication (sign-code outreach, clearer junkyard definitions). The moratorium on data centers was described as a pause to allow the city to study environmental, infrastructure and land‑use implications before accepting new data-center development applications.","At its Sept. 9 meeting the Bristol Tennessee City Council passed a two-year moratorium on data centers, approved clarifying sign-code edits and tightened junkyard/debris regulations, and approved several resolutions including municipal court fee adjustments.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6473521,"Council approves M2 zoning for 85-acre BTS parcel after residents urge larger buffers",2115,2256000,4371000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5745001-06f472de655d1d7b5702ee33d3548452&start=2256&end=4371","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5745001-06f472de655d1d7b5702ee33d3548452/thumbnail_2256000.jpg","/articles/6473521/Bristol-City/Sullivan-County/Tennessee/Council-approves-M2-zoning-for-85-acre-BTS-parcel-after-residents-urge-larger-buffers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6473521-7d79fab7ddf5472feacd1aed6afda832/orig.mp4?Expires=1773579214&Signature=FWvAO2KBD8wl47sou5VLkRxj8kFcp1dgLRewSfgZ9GO4MO1T8xfI9FzpNV8~1HBvogBFibT8K4LrSMnFZITfCjxD2WDwO~R61-4oEO2yNm1uZCBgMCQnXYWElL0zuhIAlq6oe6bVgLsayShmvclbhuWB4LGG~MuGMyh5aoO3NlSQfa5YSwTcDHBSF6b9yETlVcDkihvKSph0VaP7K~54EuL7OugifT8xFB2dqwS~zX4V8wyDCVPSKkBHt6jGb9faiA1zU3z~B7t3J8W6E~gz8Ftn3o~d1pPIPoVkd-RafaXMW8l0SxAxdEYzwS2vlwHZSjX15SjDQKwt7PkRD0xOxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bristol Tennessee City Council on Sept. 9 approved Ordinance 25-18, designating an approximately 85-acre parcel owned for BTS as M2 (general industrial district). The measure passed 3-1 after a public hearing in which nearby residents urged the council to limit industrial uses and increase setbacks and buffers.

The parcel, which city staff described as roughly 85 acres, was annexed from Sullivan County and will carry M2 zoning under the ordinance. Sherith Young, planning staff, told the council the parcel had previously been zoned A-1 (general agricultural/estate residential) in the county and that the city’s planning commission had recommended the M2 assignment in its plan of services and prior approvals.

The change matters because the city’s future land use map identified the area for low-density residential uses; adjacent homeowners said that map and the parcel’s proximity to subdivisions merit a less intensive designation. “To place an M2 industrial designation here is to knowingly place us in harm’s way,” said Renee Gaskins, an adjacent property owner, who displayed tax maps and urged larger setbacks, a wider buffer and limits on hazardous uses. Another adjacent resident, Tracy Crawford, said she gathered signatures opposing industrial zoning and argued the city should not rezone to M2 unless a specific industrial user required that classification. “Nobody there wants it,” Crawford said of neighborhood sentiment.

Council members discussed topography and potential buffering. Mayor Turner and other council members said the parcel’s steep terrain and elevation could allow substantial vegetative buffering and larger practical setbacks at the site plan stage, and noted that staff and the planning commission are continuing work on potential edits to the M2 zone. A council member also referenced a conceptual drawing that placed building pads further from nearby homes and used tree screening to reduce visual impact.

Council discussion acknowledged residents’ concerns while noting that a pad-ready industrial designation can make a site more attractive for employers. Council recorded votes were Turner — yes; Fire Robin — no; Powers — yes; Acard — yes. The ordinance therefore passed with three affirmative votes.

Young told the council that if a user for the site is identified, the developer will be required to submit a site plan and meet the city’s site-development standards, including stormwater retention and any applicable setbacks or buffers. She also told council the city and planning commission are examining allowed uses in M2 and that a citywide data-center moratorium would be considered later in the meeting to allow more study.

Next steps include any required technical reviews tied to the plan of services and, if an applicant appears, a site-plan review that will specify building location, stormwater management and landscaping. The city did not identify a specific company or development timeline at the meeting.","Bristol Tennessee City Council voted 3-1 to designate an approximately 85-acre parcel owned for BTS as M2 general industrial district despite adjacent homeowners urging reduced intensity, larger setbacks and buffers.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council opens application process for East District vacancy and names Powers vice mayor

Council enacts 2-year data‑center moratorium, updates sign and junkyard rules; several resolutions approved

Council approves M2 zoning for 85-acre BTS parcel after residents urge larger buffers