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Cocke County approves rezoning, requires earlier filing for rezoning requests and adds flood zones to public map
Summary
The county approved two rezoning requests, amended its filing and sign-posting rules for rezoning petitions and added flood-zone layers to the public property viewer. Commissioners also debated moving floodplain administration into the county mayor—s office; that discussion drew concern about cost and capacity.
Cocke County commissioners on a single motion night approved two rezoning requests, adopted a change requiring earlier submission of rezoning materials to the planning commission and added flood-zone boundaries to the county—s online property viewer.
The most immediate actions were votes to rezone 2912 Cosby Highway (Map 93 Parcel 158) from R-1 to C-1 and to rezone a parcel on Catherine Road (Map 84K Parcel 27) from R-1 to C-2. The Catherine Road rezoning was approved with the condition that Catherine Road be upgraded to county collector-road standards before further development proceeds. Planning staff told the commission those items had been considered by the planning commission and forwarded with recommendation.
County commissioners also approved an amendment to the county—s zoning procedures that requires anyone requesting rezoning to file all documents with the planning commission at least 25 days before the next scheduled planning commission meeting; the change also codifies a requirement that signs be posted on the subject property and on surrounding parcels informing the public that a rezoning application is pending. Commissioners said the new timeline is intended to ensure adequate public notice and time for planning staff review.
In a separate vote commissioners approved adding Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood-zone layers to the county—s zoning/property viewer so that members of the public can see whether a parcel lies within a mapped flood hazard area. Planning staff said the change does not alter zoning designations; it updates the map viewer to display existing floodplain data.
Commissioners debated a related measure to amend the Cobb County Flood Damage Prevention resolution so that the county—s floodplain administration would be managed from the county mayor—s office beginning in the next budget year. The proposal drew questions about who would staff and fund the position. Several commissioners and the property assessor said the role would likely require hiring at least one additional, trained staff member and associated equipment. County Mayor Joe Mathis said the county lacks current capacity and would need budgetary runway to absorb the duties.
The discussion included concerns about timing and cost: commission members and the county mayor described multiple options for funding (reallocations, using short-term disaster funds) and emphasized the need to train a new administrator before transferring duties. The commission did not record implementation details in committee documents; planning staff and the mayor said funding and staffing would be addressed in the next budget cycle to avoid service gaps.
Votes at the meeting recorded roll calls for each item; planning staff confirmed the rezoning requests and the procedure and map updates had been forwarded from the planning commission for legislative action.
