Washington County planning panel recommends denial of BWXT rezoning after hours of public comment
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Summary
After a lengthy public hearing with dozens of residents raising health, environmental and zoning concerns, the Washington County Regional Planning Commission voted to recommend denial of BWXT’s request to rezone roughly 56 acres at 1367 Old State Route 34 to M-2 industrial; the case moves to the full County Commission on Jan. 26, 2026.
The Washington County Regional Planning Commission voted to recommend denial of a rezoning request from BWX Technologies that would expand M-2 high-impact industrial zoning at 1367 Old State Route 34, after more than two hours of public comment and commissioner questioning.
At the public hearing, dozens of residents described health and environmental worries. Luther Miller, who said the plant is in his backyard, told the commission, "We found out last month that there is nuclear material buried on the property," and asked whether local illnesses could be linked to radiation exposure. Several speakers referenced a petition they said had gathered roughly 5,500 signatures opposing the rezoning and cited proximity to schools, floodplain and watershed concerns.
Supporters from the company also spoke. Ron Bailey, introduced as a BWXT Tennessee operations manager, described the firm’s local history and emphasized its stated safety practices, saying the company will continue to "operate in a safe regulatory compliant manner because that's what we do." John Hageman, listed on the rezoning application as the agent, told the panel the petitioner had narrowed the proposal from an earlier 128-acre submission to about 55 acres "to meet operational needs and allow buffers." He said permitting and licensing actions would follow state processes.
Several speakers cited specific technical and regulatory details. Tom McNiece told commissioners a project document he reviewed indicated an annual authorization to release up to 250 pounds of uranium to the air (the transcript text used a '£' symbol; the speaker intended pounds). Other commenters cited a May 2025 notification to Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) that they said showed BWXT planned to process 300 metric tons of depleted uranium annually and listed permitted emission thresholds (speakers referenced allowances of up to 5 tons per year per nonhazardous air contaminant and up to 1,000 pounds per year for some hazardous air pollutants).
Planning staff recommended approval, saying the reduced rezoning area (about 56 acres) would expand an existing industrial zoning district and that site-plan and floodplain reviews would follow if rezoning were granted. Staff also advised that buildings would not be constructed before site-plan approval.
After commissioners questioned staff about the order of events, floodplain standards, and whether the request constituted spot zoning, a commissioner moved to recommend denial of the rezoning to the full County Commission. During roll call the transcript records Chair Lendly abstaining; the recorded votes were Wolf — yes; Bailey — yes; Deakins — no; Malone — no; Hopine — yes. The chair declared the motion to recommend denial passed; the planning commission’s recommendation will be considered by the Washington County Commission at its Jan. 26, 2026 meeting.
Next steps: the planning commission’s recommendation is advisory to the county commission, which will make the final decision on Jan. 26. If rezoning were later approved, staff said any proposed buildings would require a subsequent site-plan approval and floodplain/stormwater review before construction could proceed.
