Planning body approves Matlock Bend substation site plan; utilities board says project will relieve local 69‑system capacity

The Loudon City Planning Commission approved a site plan review for the Matlock Bend electrical substation, an expansion and modernization project presented by representatives of the utilities board.

LUB representatives (Aubrey Kaggel and colleagues) told the commission the project is located off Corporate Park Drive and is intended to address growing load on the existing 69 system. In the presentation LUB said the project will involve a 161‑level facility to help alleviate capacity constraints on the 69 system; the utility team said they expect to rework existing lines to tie into the new substation and do not anticipate needing many additional circuits immediately, although the site will provide capacity for future needs.

Commissioners asked technical questions about turning radii for oversized equipment and how much clearing would be required; LUB said about half the site is wooded and that clearing will be focused around driveway entrances and circuit corridors. Staff noted the property is zoned M1 and that a public utility substation is a permitted use in the district. The utility representatives said transformers and other large equipment require special delivery and crane set‑downs and the driveway and construction access have been planned to allow for those needs.

A motion to approve the site plan was made and seconded and the commission recorded roll call votes in favor from members present; the application was approved. The commission also discussed that the project should be considered in the context of future land‑use planning for adjacent vacant parcels near Corporate Park Drive and the interstate.

Next steps: utilities board and staff will finalize detailed design, coordinate required permits and continue project planning with an eye to future regional traffic and land‑use changes.