Following the passage of the Macon County Planning Board’s high-impact ordinance earlier this month, board members are beginning to develop a list of issues to potentially tackle next.

The high-impact ordinance, which county commissioners passed unanimously, was the first ordinance the county’s newly reconstituted planning board was charged with developing. Though criticized by some residents during a public hearing held in late August for being not restrictive enough, the ordinance represents a first step in comprehensive land-use planning for the county, supporters say.

“I think it offers at least some minimal protections to our churches, day care centers, schools and things of that nature from high impact uses, and the fumes, odors, smoke, noise and vibrations that they produce,” said Stacy Guffey, Macon County Planner. “But I think the residents of Macon County would like to see more protections of the right to enjoy their property, so I hope we continue to move in that direction.”

Planning board members each have been charged with the task of coming up with a list of five land-use projects they would like the board to work on next. Board members will discuss these lists at a meeting to be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, at the Environmental Resource Center in Franklin.

“I think the priorities now will be corridor protections and a subdivision ordinance,” said Ronnie Beale, planning board chairman.

While discussions most likely will include items left out of the high-impact ordinance — for example junk cars and mobile home graveyards — there are more important issues facing the county right now that should be addressed first, Beale said. Creating some sort of ordinance relating to steep slope development is a primary concern following area landslides, as the housing market in Macon County is booming, said Beale, a building contractor by trade.

“It’s not for tomorrow, it’s for 10 years down the road,” Beale said of the planning board’s efforts to secure Macon County’s long-term future.

— By Sarah Kucharski