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Commission approves rezoning of two Georgetown Road parcels over traffic and sight-line concerns
Summary
After a public hearing and commissioner questions about driveway access and sight lines, the Bradley County Commission voted 10–2, with two absent, to rezone two parcels on Georgetown Road from rural residential (R‑1) to general commercial (C‑2).
The Bradley County Commission voted to rezone two parcels on Georgetown Road from R‑1 (rural residential) to C‑2 (general commercial) following a public hearing and a period of questions from commissioners.
Commissioner Collins introduced the resolution and said the planning commission had unanimously recommended approval. The parcels are identified on the county tax map as 026GGroupCParcel001 and 002. During discussion commissioners focused on driveway access, sight lines for vehicles coming down the hill, and whether Tennessee Department of Transportation access permits would address safety concerns.
The property owner, who spoke during the commission discussion, described prior state road work that reduced usable frontage and said he had completed surveying, septic work and other predevelopment steps while waiting for county approval. He said he offered the land to neighboring residents and had considered building modest commercial uses such as an ice vending operation. "I didn't want to put any money into it until I knew what the construction would end up being," the property owner said.
One commissioner cautioned that zoning authority does not always determine what is "right" for a neighborhood, noting community concerns about traffic and residential character. Planning staff and involved parties said access would be permitted by the state where necessary and that the planning commission believed the parcels were suitable for commercial zoning.
The rezoning passed on a roll-call vote: 10 in favor, 2 opposed and 2 absent. Two commissioners voted no, citing neighborhood character and safety concerns; the planning commission vote and the public hearing record were included in the meeting packet.
What happens next: The decision changes allowable uses under the county zoning code for those parcels; applicants seeking development permits or access onto state-controlled roadways will need to pursue the applicable regulatory approvals and any required state driveway permits. The commission did not take additional binding conditions on the rezoning during this meeting.
Votes and formal action taken at the meeting included the rezoning resolution (approved 10–2, 2 absent).
