Cocke County Commission approves two Cosby Highway–area rezones despite residents' safety and sewer concerns

The Cocke County Commission voted to rezone two adjoining parcels near Highway 321/Cosby Highway from R‑1 (residential) to C‑2 (commercial) after a public hearing in which neighbors raised traffic, septic and privacy concerns.

Residents who live on Revels (Revels/Rebels) Road and nearby properties said the parcels are too close to existing homes and that the roads lack turning lanes and buffers. “We have signatures that we have gotten, nearly 200,” said Cynthia Brennan, who said her family has lived on the road for generations. Brennan said the nearest house is about 32 feet from the proposed property line and that “there’s no sewer system; we all have septic tanks in that area.”

Whitney Freeman, who said her porch is about 38 feet from the parcel, described near‑misses when motorists try to return from Highway 321 onto Revels Road and said she feared increased truck traffic, lower property values, and pollution or runoff impacting Causeway Creek. “My children should be able to go out in their front yard and play,” she said, asking commissioners to deny the rezoning.

The applicant and property owner, Justin Lillard, told the commission the property already has an entrance constructed and that the entrance was paved during the highway expansion in 2016–2017. Lillard said the site plan shown to the county uses access from Highway 321 and that, if needed, the owner would pursue state procedures to obtain a turning lane. He offered to install a fence if neighbors wanted a noise buffer and said the developer intends a retail cluster called “Lillard Farm,” not apartments.

Planning staff and commissioners addressed setbacks, site‑plan review and utilities. Commissioners and staff noted the parcels lie along a commercial corridor recognized in planning materials and that any future development will…