Planning commission approves annexation and R-3 rezoning for 3.3 acres on W. Andrew Johnson Highway

The Morristown Regional Planning Commission voted 7-0 on April 14 to approve ANNX-3288, a request to annex about 3.3 acres at the northeastern corner of Greenbriar Road and W. Andrew Johnson Highway and to recommend an R-3 (high-density residential) zoning designation to City Council. Senior Planner Josh Cole presented the request and told the commission the property is contiguous with the city limits, is inside the Urban Growth Boundary and is currently zoned Hamblen County C-1. Staff recommended approval and said the corridor carries daily traffic counts exceeding 26,000 trips per day.

During public comment, Linda Noonkesser, a resident across Greenbriar, raised a life-safety concern about increased traffic at the intersection and questioned the location of a pond shown on the concept plan, saying moving the pond could affect driveway placement. David Noonkesser also raised concerns about a sinkhole and stormwater drainage. Mr. Cole responded that specific traffic and stormwater measures will be addressed once a formal site plan is submitted, that curb-cut approvals will follow City and TDOT policy, and that post-construction stormwater runoff is required to match preconstruction rates under city stormwater rules.

Mayor Gary Chesney moved the annexation and R-3 recommendation; Secretary Roni Snyder seconded the motion, which passed 7-0. Mayor Chesney noted existing requirements for fire safety, buffers between new development and neighbors, and said TDOT has discussed a future plan to add a traffic signal and to relocate Talbott Kansas Road. The commission recorded that any multifamily or multiple-building development will return to the commission for formal site-plan review and approval.

The annexation will now be forwarded to the Morristown City Council for final action and any site-specific traffic or stormwater studies will be required at the site-plan stage.