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Residents warn of runoff and safety risks as Franklin County approves Old Tullahoma Rd. rezoning
Summary
The Franklin County Commission approved rezoning of a 9.72-acre tract on Old Tullahoma Road despite resident objections about runoff and safety; state water resources staff warned wetlands may be present and explained permitting requirements.
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners voted Oct. 19 to rezone roughly 9.72 acres on Old Tullahoma Road from agricultural/residential to commercial, clearing the way for future commercial uses on the parcel owned by Danny J. Boggs.
The approval came after a public hearing in which several neighbors voiced opposition. Joan Pockrus, a nearby resident, told the commission she feared boat-storage or other commercial activity would increase runoff into a nearby drainage and could introduce “toxic material” to the channel used seasonally by wildlife and hunters. The Planning & Zoning Department’s staff report and the applicant’s survey were part of the record; the regional planning commission had recommended rezoning.
A state written response: permitting and wetlands The Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation’s Division of Water Resources visited the site and followed up with a written summary for residents and county staff. In that letter, environmental program coordinator Chad Augustin explained state permitting that may apply: “a NPDES General Permit for Construction Activities be obtained prior to the disturbance of greater than 1 acre,” and that “work to a wetland, or to the banks and channel of a stream requires coverage under an Aquatic Resource Alteration Permit (ARAP).” The letter also noted that the feature where the channel runs under Old Tullahoma Road was evaluated as a wet‑weather conveyance rather than an identified stream, but that “the site may contain areas which may be considered wetlands.”
Pockrus and other speakers told the commission they were concerned about oil and debris from boats, increased trespassing and higher traffic near a sharp curve on Old Tullahoma Road.
Commission action and what follows Commissioner Barbara Finney moved to approve the rezoning; the motion passed by roll‑call vote (AYES: 11; NAYS: 4). Approval of the zoning classification does not eliminate other required approvals. County planning materials entered into the record note that state and local permits and plot‑plan drainage implementation would be needed before commercial operations could begin. TDOT access permits could also be required for changes that affect a state highway.
What residents can expect: If development is proposed, the county’s plot‑plan review and state permitting processes will evaluate stormwater controls, septic or sewer availability, and any work affecting wetlands or channels. The Division of Water Resources letter provides the state-level checklist of likely permits for applicants and neighbors to reference.
