Loudon City planning commission tables Tennessee National master-plan amendment over notice and environmental questions

At a meeting of the Loudon City Planning Commission, members voted to table consideration of a master-plan amendment and related rezoning for a proposed Tennessee National LLC development for one month to allow staff to confirm public-notice steps and investigate potential environmental history for the parcel.

The item covered a roughly 26-acre area proposed for inclusion in a Planned Development District (PDD) and rezoning to a higher-density single-family district. Commissioners asked staff to confirm whether required signage and notices had been posted to notify adjacent neighbors and to check state environmental records for historical fly‑ash deposits in the area.

Commissioners raised three principal concerns during discussion: whether on-site or neighborhood notification signage had been posted before county action; the historical presence of fly ash associated with nearby industrial operations and whether any portion of the subject property was affected; and transportation impacts tied to proposed connections between the new development, Corporate Park and Matlock Bend Road. The commission asked staff to verify current signage requirements and to consult Tennessee environmental records (TDEC) and permit/closure documentation to identify any historic fly‑ash placement or remediation records that affect the parcel.

Applicant information listed on the agenda identified Tyler Gross as the applicant and Tennessee National LLC as the owner. Commissioners discussed whether approving a master-plan amendment at the planning-commission level would predetermine a later zoning decision by Loudon City Council; staff advised that the master-plan recommendation and the formal rezoning are separate actions and that the council would act on rezoning. The commission and applicant agreed to seek additional technical answers and to consider a combined agenda at the next meeting so the planning commission could act after staff responses were provided.

Formally, a motion to table consideration for one month was made, seconded and carried. A separate motion to table the related rezoning until the commission and staff could confirm notice and investigate environmental records also passed. The commission instructed staff to return with confirmations about signage/notice procedures and any relevant environmental or permit records before the commission revisits the application.

Next steps: staff will check local notice/signage requirements and consult state environmental records (TDEC) and relevant permit/closure plans; the item will return to the planning commission agenda in one month and the rezoning will proceed to Loudon City Council as required.