Week of  3/13/02
   
 
 
Moratorium extended while land-use plan re-worked
By Don Hendershot
Macon County commissioners have extended the moratorium on high-impact land uses for another six months while the board wrestles with a re-write of its land-use plan.

The unanimous vote (commissioner Janet Greene was absent) took place March 11.

A committee, Visions 2025, was created about 18 months ago to assist the county in developing a land use ordinance. The committee presented a draft ordinance to the board which passed unanimously on first reading at the board’s Dec. 3, 2001 meeting, and a public hearing was scheduled. As public opposition to the plan grew, commissioners canceled the public hearing and elected to revisit the ordinance.

At a Feb. 18 work session with the board, Visions 2025 chairperson Roberta Swank told commissioners she felt the committee had done its job. She said Visions 2025’s recommendation to the board was that commissioners take the plan and proposed changes and update the ordinance.

There appeared to be consensus among commissioners at Monday’s meeting that the board was prepared to heed the recommendation of Visions 2025.

“It’s my opinion that each generation has an obligation to make things better for the next. We have an obligation to make Macon County better, safer and more beautiful,” said Chairman Harold Corbin.

Commissioner Mark West said he felt, “time’s come to work on a reasonable land use plan now.”

Commissioner Charlie Leatherman urged the board to “go back to the original purpose” of the plan, which he felt was the regulation of commercial and industrial development and growth within the county. He said he didn’t want to see the plan “on the fast track” again, and that he would like to see commissioners take the necessary time to create a concise plan that answered questions rather than creating them. Leatherman said the county needed jobs and he would like to see a land-use plan that created jobs.

Commissioner Alan Bryson said he felt housing should be taken out of the plan and that commissioners could “split the plan up” among themselves focusing on corridor protection and high-impact uses.

Commissioners heard comments opposing and supporting a land-use plan. George Sweet who worked on the Visions plan, and his wife, Nettie, spoke in favor of it.

“In my opinion, Macon County is going to be a much better place 10 years from now due to the foresight of the commissioners. Don’t give up. There is a plan for Macon County,” said Sweet.

Jeff Cohen said he opposed the plan and urged commissioner to put the issue on the ballot. He said his business, New Visions Gymnastics, would be grandfathered in, but it would be the only business allowed at that site, limiting his options should he choose to sell. He said commissioners were, “taking my retirement away.”

Corbin said there was an overriding need to provide some protections for property owners.

“One hundred and eighty-one years ago Macon County was split off from Haywood County, and since that time nothing has been done to protect Macon County. We need a land-use plan, it was a campaign promise of mine and I plan to stick with it.”