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Commissioners approve rezoning at 39 Goose Pond Road over neighborhood objections
Summary
The Coffee County Board of Commissioners approved rezoning a 3-acre parcel at 39 Goose Pond Road from A-1 to C-1 by a 14–2 vote after residents raised concerns about traffic, children’s safety, and preserving farmland; the planning commission had recommended approval.
The Coffee County Board of Commissioners voted 14–2 to rezone a 3-acre parcel at 39 Goose Pond Road from A-1 (agricultural) to C-1 (commercial), resolving a matter that previously failed to reach the required 10-vote majority.
During the public-comment period, longtime residents urged denial. Ernest West said he has lived on Goose Pond Road his entire life and asked commissioners to “keep it zoned agriculture.” Donna West Fletcher, whose family farm is nearing a century in the same family, said the corner of Highway 53 and Goose Pond Road is busy and noted that “there’s a lot of children” who play nearby. Both speakers said they feared commercial change and minor subdivision would disrupt the neighborhood.
The applicant and property owner, identified in the meeting as Mr. Cooney, told commissioners he intends to place a small family roofing and siding office on the corner lot, retain the remainder of the land, employ four people, ship materials directly to job sites, and not store materials onsite. “We do not house any material. There will not be semis coming in out of there,” he said, arguing traffic would not increase.
Steve Cunningham, chairman of the planning commission, explained the planning commission’s unanimous positive recommendation: the site fronts state Highway 53 (a collector/arterial), has available water and nearby fire protection, and sits among other commercial or mixed uses. Cunningham acknowledged sympathy for neighbors but said the request was “reasonable and allowable.”
Commissioners discussed the item as old business, noting it had previously been unresolved and that Tennessee law requires a majority of the full body (10 votes) to act on zoning changes. After debate, the board approved the rezoning 14 yes, 2 no. The meeting record shows the planning commission’s recommendation and the resident objections were part of the board’s deliberation.
Next steps were not specified during the meeting; the record does not show additional conditions or changes to the approved zoning.
