Planning commission approves preliminary plat for Tennessee National Marina Phase 2 with conditions

The Loudon City Planning Commission on Thursday recommended approval of the preliminary plat for Tennessee National Marina District Phase 2, a proposal that would subdivide the site into about 58 single-family lots and add a boat launch, trailer parking and utility extensions.

The decision followed a presentation by applicant Tyler Gross, who described the plat as “about 58 lots averaging just under half an acre, all single family residential,” and outlined planned roadway and utility extensions, a lift station and a road linking to a pump station on the site’s south side.

Commissioners and staff emphasized outstanding technical review comments must be addressed before construction permits are issued. A staff member told the commission, “we'd like the motion to also include that those comments need to be addressed before any permits are issued.” The commission’s motion included that condition and carried on a voice vote.

Why it matters: the plat would create a new residential phase and public access amenities tied to Tennessee National’s marina and waterfront, affecting floodplain and easement management along the riverbank.

Details of the proposal and conditions The plat includes a roadway extension from Corporate Park Drive into the area identified on plans as the Meridian District, utility extensions for water and sewer, a lift station, and a boat ramp with adjacent parking and trailer storage. The applicant said there is a flow easement along the riverbank that affects portions of three lots directly and five lots total.

Gross said the easement historically limited agricultural uses and that the applicant has been working with the Tennessee Valley Authority and other agencies to obtain permits. He said the applicants expect a permit process that could take about a year and described the expected technical condition for approval from the agency: the site may be filled only if there is no net loss of flood storage, which may require cutting and relocating material elsewhere on the site to achieve a net-zero impact.

The commission’s approval was explicitly conditioned on addressing outstanding review comments in staff reports and resolving the flow-easement/permit questions before permits are issued. The motion implementing the recommendation did not record individual roll-call votes and was adopted by voice vote.

Background and next steps The preliminary plat was presented to the commission after staff review comments were circulated; the approval is a recommendation that allows the developer to proceed with required engineering, permit applications and subsequent administrative steps. Permits tied to shoreline stabilization, the boat ramp and docks remain subject to the external permitting process the applicant described.

No final building or land-disturbance permits will be issued until the conditions stated by staff and the commission are satisfied.