Development Review Process Evaluation Committee

There is a great deal of interest on the final product on this committee. Some are concerned the committee will desire to create "elasticity" with Farragut ordinances. Others are concerned that the real problems have not been addressed. I agree with those that feel you either expand the town staff or have FMPC meetings once a month. Should this go back to committee?

Find out for yourself:

http://www.townoffarragut.org/review-final.pdf

http://www.townoffarragut.org/review.htm#minutes

Development Review Process Evaluation Committee adjourns

In past weeks what started out as an excellent review of town procedures has dissolved into what may be a passing the buck exercise. Many developers appeared before the Development Review Process Evaluation Committee. Now it seems that the role of the Town staff has come into question. One of the key points in Committee Draft from the Development Review Process Evaluation Committee is the perceived subjectivity of town staff interpreting Town ordinances.

Great concern must be given here. If an ordinance can be subjectively interpreted it needs to be re-written. There cannot be subjectivity in regard to Town ordinances. This is the job of the FMBA not the Town staff. Harry Truman had a small sign on his desk, "The buck stops here." That sign rests on the desk of the FMBA and not the desk of the Town staff.

Some of the items in the Committee Draft from the Development Review Process Evaluation Committee make great sense; hiring needed staff, improving Customer Service, and improving communication.

Unfortunately the Development Review Process Evaluation Committee elected not to change the current meeting schedule of the FMPC from two meetings per month to one meeting per month. This is a needed and practical change. The problem is supply and demand. The staff is not large enough to keep up with the pace. This was an inexpensive reasonable solution and if there is a failure of this Committee it is that it overlooked the simplest most practical solution.

“elasticity” of town ordinances?

The "elasticity" of town ordinances was the topic of discussion Thursday, Aug. 18, as Former Farragut Mayor Robert Leonard raised questions at the FMPC. How does the former Mayor ask a question like that? The simple answer is that ordinances are not elastic. Great care is taken to make sure that ordinances have meaning. One meaning and only one meaning.

Thank you TOF for the new traffic signal

The new traffic warning signal on Turkey Creek Road just before Redmill Lane is working well. While traveling West on Turkey Creek Road as you approach Redmill Lane you will see the new light "light up" when there is traffic approaching the stop sign at Red Mill Lane.

Tragically this was the spot where a Farragut youth was fatally injured in September 2004. The picture at the left is another accident at the same intersection.

Reconsideration of the Smith Road sidewalk

In an unusual reversal the FMBA have decided to take a second look at the Smith Road sidewalk issue. Was the result of public pressure? It seems that residents have become more organized and have learned to communicate better with the FMBA in the past year. The only Alderman to support the sidewalk in the first vote in July was first term Alderman and former FMPC commissioner Tom Rosseel.

Farragut Commons residents express concern

In workshop discussions, Farragut Commons residents said they were concerned about an increase in traffic on Grigsby Chapel Road that may result from a proposed plat for a Chapel Grove subdivision. The residents said they already have trouble entering traffic from their subdivision. Farragut Commons resident Dolline Baer said, “Actually it would be a big help there if the speed limit could be reduced. It’s impossible to cross that street. The cars come so fast, as it’s already been voiced, that we’ve had some bad accidents there. … The speed limit is just too high there. If we could have that reduced, it would be a big help.”

“Not only reduced, but enforced. Especially through there,” Bob Hill responded. I am glad to see Bob Hill is changing his views on speeding. When South Farragut residents expressed concerned over speeding on Turkey Creek Road Hill did not seem to feel there was a problem.

Doom and gloom

I think I understand why Tom Rosseel defeated Ron Honken in the North Ward Alderman race. Positive thinking. The Town of Farragut needs to hire some additional staff to meet demand. Fred Jones sees it and so do the other MPC members and the FBMA.

But Ron Honken see it this way, “I think it probably came up in the majority of the interviews we had,” Ron Honken said. “There is a staff member that has things that need to be worked on and they’re pretty serious. Although I agree that this new position probably needs to be put in place over planning and engineering, my experience has been that never can you solve a problem by insulating somebody from the public.” Honken concluded his suggestions with: “There’s a great deal of reservation that this group will actually achieve anything. … There are changes that need to take place, because if they don’t, I don’t think the development community is going to give the town of Farragut a second chance.”

The development community won't give Farragut a second chance? That is laughable. You bet they will give us a second chance as the most valuable land in Knox County is in the Town of Farragut. Negative thinking never achieves anything.

Farragut Municipal Planning Commission approves the 25-foot Aquatic Buffer Zone

Seems like the call for common sense was heard. Nice work.

“This is not a witch hunt”

I get nervous when ever someone makes a statement like, "This is not a witch hunt". The first thing that comes to mind is that it is a witch hunt.

The review of the town staff by a third party is a good idea. But I do not understand why the TOF had to spend $28,630 when a similar service could have been received from the University of Tennessee Municipal Advisory Service at no charge. It seems that Alderman Tom Rosseel had the right idea.

The problem seems to be a lack of staff. So why spend $28,630 to find out what common sense would lead you to? I do not understand the thinking of Town Personnel Committee Chair Ron Honken. Why not just hire more staff to meet the demand? The $28,630 could have gone towards that new salary.