Planning commission splits on proposed zoning amendments; approves road dedication and raises A‑1 setbacks

COFFEE COUNTY, Tenn. — The Coffee County Planning Commission on April 22 debated three proposed amendments to the county zoning resolution — on water and fire protection, road dedications and traffic studies, and setbacks — and issued mixed votes that will move some measures to the full county commission.

The commission voted to decline a proposed water-and-fire-protection resolution, approved a roads-and-traffic resolution requiring a 25-foot dedication from the centerline and a traffic study for larger subdivisions, and separately approved a motion to set A‑1 setbacks at 50 feet front, 50 feet rear and 50 feet side for all A‑1 parcels. A separate, similar setback proposal that the presenters had submitted was declined by the commission.

The votes came after public testimony and technical testimony from local fire officials who urged tighter rules for rural development. “It says deficient water for fire protection should be grounds for rejection of proposed developments,” resident Ashley Gunn told the commission, citing state water rules. Dylan Harris, assistant chief at New Union Fire Department, told commissioners the countywide average response time for the closest unit to arrive at a structure fire was 14 minutes and 1 second and cautioned that modern homes can reach flashover in three to five minutes. “By the time we get there, most of these houses have already gone to…