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Commission approves Lowry variance, conditions Cherokee Drive lots and clears Love’s Travel Stop expansion
Summary
The planning commission approved a variance for the Lowrys’ 1674 Tilley Road lot due to septic hardship, conditionally approved three Cherokee Drive lots with a 15‑foot utility note and accepted a Love’s Travel Stop site‑expansion contingent on a licensed engineer’s seal; several final plats were postponed and officer elections were held.
The Jefferson County Regional Planning Commission approved several routine land‑use items Tuesday, including a variance for two lots at 1674 Tilley Road and a conditional site plan approval for a Love’s Travel Stop expansion, and set conditions for a Cherokee Drive subdivision before recording.
Variance and plats: The commission approved a variance requested by Timothy and Angela Lowry for lot width and setback reductions at 1674 Tilley Road after the applicant and staff described a topographic hardship and septic/drain-field limitations. A commissioner moved to approve the variance "due to the hardship in the septic system," and the board carried the motion by voice vote. Separately, the commission postponed final-plat consideration for three lots off Money Creek Road and for Woody Estate Phase 3 when applicant representatives were not present.
Cherokee Drive subdivision: Resident Billy Crane raised concerns about an overhead power line crossing proposed lots and the county‑road superintendent signature block on the plan. Commissioners directed the applicant to add a note identifying a 15‑foot utility offset from the power line (or otherwise show an appropriate easement) and to secure the county sign-off before recordation. The board approved the plat contingent on those two conditions.
Love’s Travel Stop site expansion: Brad Peck, representing Love’s Travel Stops, and engineer Sarah Harville presented a site plan for the Love’s Travel Stop at 1058 East Grand Road, Dandridge. Staff noted several pages lacked a licensed professional engineer’s seal; the applicant said they would obtain the seal. Commissioners questioned ingress/egress and evening truck parking; Peck responded the redesign creates a separate truck entry and increases truck parking to about 152 spaces, which should reduce ramp parking. "We have created an entry lane that almost can immediately separate the trucks from the cars," Peck said. On a motion conditioned on affixing the engineer’s seal and correcting the document, the commission approved the site plan by voice vote.
Elections and other business: Commissioners elected Brian Morgan as chair, David Nelson as vice chair and Mark Chambers as secretary. The commission discussed procedural rules and plans to review subdivision regulations and the zoning resolution at a future meeting. The meeting adjourned following a formal motion to close.
Votes at a glance: Lowry variance — approved (voice vote); Money Creek final plat — postponed to November; Woody Estate Phase 3 final plan — postponed; Cherokee Drive three‑lot plat — approved contingent on showing 15‑foot utility offset and county sign‑off; Love’s Travel Stop expansion — approved contingent on licensed engineer’s seal.
