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Blount County residents urge caution as zoning hearing considers cutting open-space rules for cluster developments

Blount County Board of County Commissioners · January 9, 2026
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Residents at a Jan. 8 Blount County zoning public hearing urged commissioners to reject or revise a proposal to reduce open-space requirements in cluster developments, citing traffic, strained schools, stormwater and permanent loss of farmland; no vote was taken.

The Blount County Board of County Commissioners held a zoning public hearing Jan. 8 on a proposal to amend Section 7.20(c) of the county zoning regulations to lower open-space requirements for cluster developments. The chair opened the hearing, confirmed a quorum and invited public comment under a three-minute limit.

Several residents told commissioners they support measured growth but urged against reducing required green space. Jamie Best, a District 4 resident, said denser clustering is already overwhelming county roads, adding, “I don't want our country roads to become 4 lanes.” She argued against…

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