Coffee County planning leaders say five‑acre rule applies to A1 only, defer two plats to April

The Coffee County Planning Commission on March 24 clarified that a five‑acre minimum applies only in the county's A1 zoning district and that there is no moratorium in effect.

"There is a five‑acre minimum, but there is no moratorium, and has not been since May," the Chair said, addressing public confusion circulating on social media. The Chair said the rule has helped shift some growth into city urban growth boundaries (UGBs) while allowing responsible development elsewhere.

The commission also deferred two subdivision items to its April meeting after staff reported missing signatures. "Both of those are going to be deferred to our April meeting," the Chair said; the items identified were the major preliminary for MC England Road and the minor final plat for Fountain Grove Road.

Anna Gonzalez, a planning commission member, confirmed that the five‑acre minimum applies only in the A1 district outside UGBs, recounting a constituent's misunderstanding about a 3.5‑acre parcel. The Chair and another member explained two formal paths for owners seeking smaller parcels: applicants may request a variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals or seek a rezoning through the planning commission and then the full legislative body.

A planning commission member summarized the county's Strategic Growth Plan (through 2028) and said the Coffee County Farm Bureau unanimously supported the A1 five‑acre minimum. The member announced a Tennessee Department of Environmental Conservation public process on farm ponds and quarries: an informal question‑and‑answer period is scheduled for 5:00 p.m., followed by an official hearing at 6:00 p.m.

The commission approved routine business at the start of the meeting, including the agenda and previous minutes; the record shows motions and seconds for those items but does not specify a full roll‑call tally in the transcript. A motion to adjourn was made later in the meeting and carried by voice vote.

For residents seeking clarification, the Chair directed callers to the codes office: "If you have a question, call Cindy or Kurt at the codes office," he said. The Chair encouraged decisions based on facts rather than hearsay and urged residents to attend the TDEC sessions for more information.

The planning commission also noted that state and federal properties (for example, the Arnold Engineering Development Center and the state 'mega site') are outside county control, and that any sale of state land could come back to county review depending on state conditions. The meeting ended after the adjournment motion was seconded and carried.