Commission denies Chestnut Ridge rezoning request, approves separate highway-commercial rezoning near rail line

Roane County commissioners on Monday denied a rezoning request for 324 Chestnut Ridge Road but approved a separate application to rezone a parcel adjacent to a rail corridor to highway-commercial.

The Chestnut Ridge request (filed as resolution O42501) sought to change a parcel from R-1 (single-family residential) to R-2 (two-family residential). The county planning commission had unanimously recommended denial, calling the request a classic example of spot zoning that would benefit only the property owner.

At the public hearing the applicant said the intent was to build a duplex so two households (the applicant and his parents) could occupy the structure; the applicant described the proposed design as a two-story duplex with separate entries. Neighbors objected to changing the neighborhood's character and raising traffic on a narrow, one-way street.

Neighbor David Zaff, who identified himself as owning property adjacent to and near the parcel, told the commission the area has a quiet character and limited road access. "It's a one-way street. You only have one way in and one way out, and it's a narrow road," Zaff said, and added that multiple nearby acreage parcels could be developed separately, which he said would change the neighborhood's character.

A planning representative described the request as spot zoning and said the area was otherwise uniformly zoned R-1. After debate, the commission voted 14'1 against the rezoning request; the motion to approve failed.

Separately, the commission took up a rezoning petition for map 013, parcel 013.01, which asked to change zoning from A-2 (agricultural) to C-2 (highway commercial). Planning staff told commissioners the planning commission recommended approval by an 8'1 vote, noting existing C-2 zoning nearby and that the parcel is separated from surrounding commercial property only by a railroad track. An owner or agent on hand confirmed they would not execute any uses requiring easements until confirmation of a necessary easement was received.

Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the map 013 rezoning (15'0). Officials said the property's proximity to existing C-2 parcels and the rail corridor supported the change.

The two items were handled separately at the meeting; the Chestnut Ridge denial restated planning commission concerns about spot zoning and preserving neighborhood character, while the map 013 approval reflected consistency with nearby commercial uses and an existing rail corridor.

The commission record shows the planning commission presentation, resident testimony and final roll-call votes for both items are on file in the county clerk's office.