Blount County planning panel approves Johnson Acre preliminary plat amid residents’ complaints about notice and audibility

The Blount County Planning Commission on an unspecified date approved the preliminary plat for the Johnson Acre subdivision — 38 residential lots served off a new county road and a common driveway — contingent on staff conditions including developer notice, utility documentation, SWIP permit/notice of coverage, cluster mailbox siting, a pre-construction meeting and completion of road, drainage and utilities.

Doug, a county staff member presenting the project, told the commission the plat includes lots 3 through 41 along Johnson Road and Wildwood Road and one detention lot. He listed outstanding items that must be completed before a final plat is accepted, saying the “project engineer shall supply updated plans to show the cluster mailbox location, proposed road and common driveway cross-section details” and that the developer must provide documentation for a property owners association for staff review.

Commissioners debated site-access details before the vote. Commissioner Mars questioned whether lot dimensions might change and whether lots would be reduced below the required minimum; staff responded that the lots would not be reduced below the minimum standards and that the county engineer had reviewed the plan. Commissioners also focused on access for lots served by a common driveway and whether lots 6 and 7 should have separate frontage on Johnson Road; the commission emphasized that maintenance responsibilities for the common driveway should be spelled out in the HOA/maintenance documents.

A motion to approve the preliminary plat with the conditions noted by staff was moved by Commissioner Wells and seconded by Commissioner Franklin; the motion passed.

Residents who attended raised procedural and environmental concerns. Susan Keller, who gave her address during public comment, said attendees in the back of the room could not hear proceedings and that it was unclear when the public could speak on agenda items, telling the commission, “we cannot hear you back here in the back. If you're going to speak, speak into your speakers and don't mumble.” Camp Busky echoed that concern and said they will attend future meetings to stay involved.

Pam Petco Seuss, who identified herself as holding a master’s degree in wildlife science and living on Johnson Road, urged the commission to consider habitat impacts and long-term environmental consequences. She described large-scale tree removal on Johnson Road and warned of habitat fragmentation for deer, owls, turkeys and other wildlife, saying developers and the county should balance new housing with preservation of forested lots and natural cooling benefits from trees.

The commission also approved two other preliminary plats on the agenda — the Hustetler property (three lots along Hustetler and Mint roads) and the TANM property (three lots on Wilkinson Pike) — and moved on to elect officers and appoint staff to serve as plat-signing secretaries. The meeting adjourned after the public-comment period.

The commission’s approval of Johnson Acre is conditional: staff must receive the documentation and plan revisions listed in the staff analysis before a final plat can be recorded. Residents requested clearer public-notice procedures and improved audibility for future hearings.