Sevier County Commission authorizes 10-year ETSU parking-lot lease after 15-8 vote
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Summary
The Sevier County Commission voted 15-8 to authorize the county mayor to enter a 10-year lease for a parking lot adjacent to the East Tennessee State University Sevier County campus; commissioners raised questions about final cost, lot size and approval authority before the motion passed.
The Sevier County Commission voted 15-8 on Dec. 18 to authorize the county mayor to enter a 10-year lease for a parking lot adjacent to the East Tennessee State University (ETSU) Sevier County campus. The lease would involve the county, the City of Sevierville and Ristorante DellaSantina; construction would be paid by the restaurant owner and amortized over a six-year period, the county said.
Executive Director Newton summarized a multi-year process that began in 2019 and said Dellasantina Dining Concepts (the restaurant owner) approached the county in summer 2023 to add parking because campus parking was strained during class hours. Newton said the lease under consideration is a 10-year contract with a six-year amortization schedule and that, "if the restaurant owner terminates the six-year amortization, the county would not owe funds; if the county or city terminates, the county and city would owe the restaurant owner the remaining amortization amount with a 90-day call." Newton also said the final plans and construction costs must be approved by the county and city before PRI Construction is issued a bid.
Commissioners asked for clarification on lot size, acreage, and who would bear construction costs. Newton said there was not an accurate cost estimate at the meeting but that the restaurant owner would cover construction costs subject to final budget approval; Newton further clarified that no single entity would be responsible for more than $50,000 and that the total cost cap between the county and city was set at $100,000.
Mayor Larry Waters said that if the resolution passed, "all final approvals will come from the mayor's office regarding the final plans for the lot and how much it will cost." Harold Pitner moved the resolution; Fred Atchley seconded. The motion passed 15 yes, 8 no, 2 absent.
The resolution was added to the agenda by the steering committee earlier that day. The commission did not record further conditions on timing or a construction start date during the meeting; Newton indicated additional approvals would follow once final plans and cost estimates are completed.