At last week's Lenoir City planning commission meeting, The applicant for the annexation on Shaw Ferry Road, Robert Campbell, requested the annexation of the 42 acre parcel located on Shaw Ferry Road and Hewins Road between Hwy 11 and Town Creek Road. The developer, 5-Star Properties, also submitted a plat that shows a proposed development of 97 homes on very small lots. Mr. Campbell was told of the county 20' road requirement. He said he was aware. 

While the property is located within the Lenoir City Urban Growth Boundary, UGB, it is not contiguous with the current city limits. This means, the city would have to have an inter-local agreement with the county for this annexation. Secondly, Shaw Ferry Road is a county road and under the new county road standards, is not wide enough to allow such a development. The current county road standards require that any development of more than 9 lots must be located on a road with a width of at least 20', measured inside white line to inside white line. Shaw Ferry Road does not meet this requirement.

Lenoir City officials/mayor Tony Aikens, has been on a mission to destroy the city. Now it appears they want to bring their urban sprawl out into the county suburbs to reek havoc on even more people. 

The second requested annexation is two parcels totaling 3.25 acres on Hwy 11 across from Highland Park School and Highland Park Church. It's the property that has the green house and fruit stand on the highway. The owner/applicant is Ali Roseburgh. This property is also in the Lenoir City UGB but not contiguous to the current city limits and would also require an inter-local agreement with the county to be annexed.

According to the applicant, Ms. Roseburgh, the reason she is asking for annexation is that a lot of people have been asking for her to have a wedding venue on the property. She was afraid that under county regulations, she wouldn't be able to provide alcohol at the weddings. She also mentioned that there might be noise at the weddings. Ms. Roseburgh also said it would be good to have city garbage service.

If the owner does in fact want to sell alcohol on her property, she's correct that she would not be able to under county beer permit regulations. The county prohibits the sell of beer within 2000' of a church, school, daycare or any other place of public gathering. The city allows the sell of beer within 150' of a church, school, daycare or any other place of public gathering. Ms. Roseburgh's property is less than 150' from a daycare, less than 300' from a school and 300' from a church. Ms. Roseburgh may also want to be advised that the city has a noise ordinance. The county does not.

As to the cost of garbage pick up, the city charges $16 per month. Private haulers in the county charge about $18. As a city property, the owner will see an immediate city property tax increase of $300 plus be required to pay the infamous city Rain Tax. So the property owner will save $2 on garbage pick up but have to spend an additional $300+ in taxes. Hard to see the benefits of being in the city.