Commissioners raise legal concerns about Lenoir City annexations; planning staff presents multiple rezoning requests

Commissioner Dan Shaver told the commission that recent Lenoir City annexation actions did not follow the state-required steps for a plan of services and public notices and urged the commission to place a response on the June 30 agenda.

"They didn't follow any of the state requirements to do the plan of service and the public notices," Shaver said. "They have to work with the county mayor to establish the plan of services. They have to have a public notice for the plan of services made. They did not have a public notice."

Shaver said one annexation request was turned down by the city and another involved property that is not contiguous to the city limits; he asked that the county consider sending a formal letter warning the city it is not following state law. Chairman responded that the item could be placed on the June 30 agenda.

Earlier in the meeting, Kim Jenkins presented multiple zoning amendments described as resolutions amending the zoning act of Loudon County pursuant to "chapter 7 13 dash 7 dash 1 0 5, Tennessee Code Annotated." Jenkins outlined specific rezoning requests: parcels at 706 Gilbert Lane (rezoning from A1 agricultural/forestry to a developing agricultural district), 16020 Wayne [parcel front already C-2] for full C-2 general commercial, and several small residential rezone requests on Matlock Road, Caldwell Road and Wilkerson Road for acre-sized splits and subdivision adjustments. Jenkins said the planning commission recommended the rezonings but noted limitations such as subdivisibility on some lots.

Shaver and other commissioners discussed interlocal agreements and the need for the city to provide plans of services and to contact the county mayor before proceeding with annexation; Shaver referenced state law changes on spot annexation and said noncontiguous annexations must follow additional interlocal agreement procedures.

Why it matters: Annexations that do not follow state requirements can affect service responsibilities, tax bases and potential litigation between the county and the city. The planning commission's recommended rezonings, if approved later, would change land-use designations for specific parcels.