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Preliminary plat for Old Airport Road subdivision approved with condition to locate suspected cemetery
Summary
The planning commission conditionally approved a preliminary subdivision on Old Airport Road but required the developer to locate and document a suspected historic cemetery and show any reserved area and access easement on the final plat before the commission will grant final approval.
The Coffee County Planning Commission granted preliminary approval to a major division on Old Airport Road but attached a condition: the developer must locate and document a suspected historic cemetery and show any required reserved area and access easement on the final plat before the commission will grant final approval.
Neighbors told the commission they believe graves dating to the late 1800s exist on the property, and one speaker said she had an aerial photograph from 1969 and observed cemetery vines and an old fenced area. Peggy Delaney, who said her father owns adjoining property, told the commission: “We believe that there is a cemetery that was a person buried back in the late 18 hundreds on that property.” She asked that the commission require the landowner to locate and protect the site or relocate remains appropriately.
Nicholas Northcutt, the surveyor representing the applicant, told the commission the lots meet size requirements and said the developer could reserve an area on the lots if a cemetery is confirmed. He also described engineering steps taken to address a sight‑distance issue by shifting the road entrance to meet the Tennessee sight‑distance requirement for a 55 mph roadway.
During discussion the commission and staff said the preliminary decision can include conditions to ensure issues are resolved before final approval. Commissioner Randy Harrell moved to approve the preliminary plat with the stipulation that the cemetery be located and documented and that an ingress/egress easement and reserved area be drawn on the final plat; the motion passed. Staff and the applicant said an archaeological or cemetery survey could be required and the plat adjusted if remains or site boundaries are found.
Speakers also raised stormwater/runoff and elevation concerns; the applicant said detention and drainage easements will be included in construction and final plans and that those technical requirements will be reviewed by engineers and state reviewers as part of the final‑plan process. The commission’s action was for preliminary approval only; final approval will require submission of construction plans and resolution of the cemetery documentation condition.
