SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT WOKI) – Neighbors along Red Bank Road in Sevierville are expressing their concern about a new development that would bring roughly a thousand homes to the area.
“It’s the sheer number is the problem,“ Weston underwood said. ”Not against development and growing, but at this capacity it just it can’t handle it.”
Underwood grew up in the adjacent neighborhood, Red Bank Circle, and has now moved back home. He says he knows personally that this area cannot handle a thousand new homes, people and cars.
“It’s not just Red Bank that’s affected, it’s anyone that’s going to travel on Hwy. 416 because, I mean you’re adding 1,000 to 3,000 people and cars to the road,” Underwood said.
The proposal as it stands would put those homes into a 200 acre plot of land. That land would also hold commercial zoning.
The planning commission held a public forum with the community to discuss their concerns with the subdivision.
“We’re here doing a little fact finding ourselves. We need to see what questions that we can ask. This is about transparency, we want this community involvement,” Planning Commission Chairman Vincent Snider said.
The community made sure to get involved, packing the Sevierville Civic Center. Dozens of neighbors coming out to speak their mind.
“We want to address this in a responsible manner to meet a need in a way that works well in the city and community,” Snider said.
The room was packed 30 minutes prior to the start of the meeting. Neighbors took turns discussing different issues such as the lack of entry points into the community, which currently has only two.
Other points brought up were developers that are not from the area, how the area is not zoned for residential, but the main issue was traffic.
Neighbors say traffic is already a problem, now they’re worried about more coming in.
“There’s a lot of development other than this that has happened to us and you know obviously tourists are aware of this road now and that’s fine. It’s just you know like I said, if there’s this many people on the road, if there’s an emergency not only getting in, but what if we need to get out?” Underwood said.
Snider saying answering questions like that is what this forum is made for.
“A preliminary traffic study has been done we’re going to look into that see how detailed it is, see if we need more details. The road construction will need to be addressed, that would be something that is done by the developer,” Snider said.
Snider says they are trying to learn as much as possible before a vote takes place.
“This is just an initial presentation tonight, allow us to have some conversation, hear from the community, what their concerns are. Then it will come back before the planning commission, we will either approve or deny it. If it were approved it will then go to the mayor and aldermen and their will be three readings there before it is approved,” Snider said.
Story courtesy of our news partner WVLT
