Zoning still up in air

MIKE WEST
Courier Editor

Stuck on a delicate issue, County Commissioners delayed action Thursday (June 4) on the possible rezoning of Cannon County.

"We were talking at our last meeting where we heard from two or three members of the Planning Commission. They wanted us to understand where they were coming from," said County Executive Mike Gannon. "What do I need to tell them?"

"It's a slippery slope," said Commissioner Jim Bush. "If you are working to regulate businesses like a rock crusher or a porn theater, that's one thing, but private property is something entirely different."

"Where do you stop?" Bush asked.

Gannon admitted that zoning is a difficult issue.

"The (zoning) committee members told me they don't want Rutherford County-type zoning," he said. "They are going to come to you with a sample plan based upon Smith County's zoning policy.

Planning Commission Chairman Boyd Barker told the County Commission at its May session that planners didn't want to invest the time into creating zoning policies if they would be rejected outright. After some discussion, the Commission rolled the issue over to the June meeting.

"What we need to do is have another meeting between the Planning Commission and the County Commission," Gannon said.
Commissioner Mark Barker said he needs more time to hear from constituents before meeting with planners.

No action was taken on the zoning issue.

Much of the meeting was routine, but Commissioners did hear from Sarah Malone of the UT Extension office, who updated them on anti-litter plans.

"It's a beautiful county and we want to keep it that way," Malone told the Commissioners.

The Extension Service's plan is to reach parents through their children. "Litter prevention starts at home," she said.