Residents urge coordination on annexation and road safety as commission moves to hire planner

At the Roane County Commission meeting, residents used the public-comment period to press elected officials for closer attention to annexation and road safety and to urge stronger county planning.

Karen Ryan, who identified herself as a resident "south of the river," told commissioners that prior annexations had proceeded without required community votes and warned that future annexations could similarly bypass residents' wishes. "We passed a law in 2016 that no area can be annexed into any city unless there's a vote from the people that are in that community," Ryan said, urging the commission to consider how annexation affects longtime households and community boundaries.

Casey Schonkey, a Longboat community resident, told the commission an annexation request for 1900 Longboat Road had been withdrawn after community pushback. Schonkey thanked the 6th District commissioner and county planning staff for attending a Kingston City Council workshop and argued that city annexations that allow rezoning without county process "undermine the county's planning process and set a dangerous precedent" by enabling property owners to pursue city approval instead of county review.

Commissioners acknowledged the concerns and said they are prioritizing hiring a certified planner. Commissioner Chris Wilson said the county needs a planner in place before hiring consultants to develop a long-range land-use map, zoning updates, and subdivision standards. "We need to have done this five years ago," Wilson said, adding that state pay caps limit recruitment and the commission must be deliberate in hiring the right candidate.

Road-safety concerns tied to proposed rezoning surfaced during discussion. Residents and commissioners noted speeding and truck traffic on Longboat/Long Hill Road and recommended additional enforcement, signage, and engineering solutions such as widening or selective traffic control. An engineer's survey and a road study were reported as completed or near completion; commissioners said they would follow up with Oak Ridge and the county road committee.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the county's land-use plan, zoning regulations and growth map — last adopted in 2001 and in need of updates — will guide development for years. Residents said intergovernmental coordination and early county engagement with city councils are essential to preserve rural neighborhoods and ensure fair notice and process.

What's next: Commissioners said they will continue the planner hiring process and will ask the county attorney and road committee to provide legal and technical guidance on annexation consequences and traffic remedies. Public comment and committee input are expected to inform the hiring scope and the subsequent consultant work.