“The key word in zoning is harmony. Harmony with the community, history and natural beauty.”
That’s the belief of Franklin Alderman Nancy Scott, a vocal proponent of using land-use planning to save the best of what communities have.

“Zoning used to be the big Z word,” says Scott. “For a while you just didn’t discuss it, but people have become aware of the effects of the lack of zoning, and it can now be seen as private property protection. It’s gone from ‘no one’s going to tell me what to do with my land’ to concern about the neighbor putting a junk yard next door.”

Changes in zoning in the town of Franklin have recently begun to be considered by the town administrator and the Board of Adjustment. The board will review the current ordinance which was originally written in the early 1950s and relies on just three zoning districts - residential, commercial and industrial. The board of adjustment will compare Franklin’s ordinances to those in similar towns. Then the town board will decide whether to keep what it has, whether to amend the ordinances, or whether a complete revision is warranted.

Scott, a high school history teacher who has been on the board of aldermen for nine years, thinks the time has come to institute serious land-use planning in Franklin.

“This is where you can make a difference. You can have a direct effect immediately at the town and county level,” she says.

Sprawling development is occurring throughout Macon County at a time when there is not sufficient infrastructure to serve it, Scott says. Providing water, sewer and other needs to these newly developed areas is expensive.

In 2000 the number of residences in Macon County grew by 589. Scott visualizes more compact growth near town modeled after traditional areas like Franklin’s Harrison Avenue —pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods with a mix of residences and businesses in walking distance, “like a small town should be.”

The high cost of water and sewer expansion is a clear reason to support centralized growth, Scott says. In addition to extending water lines, it may be necessary to look for additional water sources or to construct more storage tanks south of town, Scott said. The cost would need to be divided between county and town taxpayers, she said.

Scott fears that the pace of growth could negatively affect Franklin. In the past she has proposed town sign ordinances in addition to the county ordinance.

“There are a number of unattractive billboards in town and I would want to see no more added,” she said. “But the process needs to involve citizens and business people before being implemented. It would be naive to pass an ordinance that businessmen might be up in arms about.”

There can be informational and directive signs without having billboards, she said. Vermont has eliminated billboards and all commercial signs on the interstate, and tourism has increased.
“We don’t need signs blocking our views,” Scott said.

To maintain Franklin’s appearance, Scott wants to preserve green space. She says that recently constructed big businesses such as Lowe’s could have been required to have 10 percent of their parking lot in trees and grass.

“I think businesses would be willing to do it because Franklin is a growing town where lots of money can be made. It can help business. For instance, mobile home parks with trees are much more attractive. It adds value, lowers cooling costs and controls erosion,” Scott said.

In addition, she supports ordinances to maintain native vegetation and promote the use of traditional building materials.

To protect open spaces Scott suggests conservation easements, voluntary restriction of development on one’s own property which can reduce property taxes as well. Land trusts can help owners establish conservation easements.

“Four and a half million acres in the U.S. are protected by land trusts. Why not a few in Macon County?” she says.

Scott is pleased by a current conservation project in Franklin.

A committee has been working on problems with erosion and street run off in Crawford Branch, a stream that runs through downtown. A possible solution would be to expand the wetland area to the right of Phillips Street, an area known as Frogtown, to absorb runoff.

A “rain garden” has been proposed for Franklin’s Memorial Park to curb erosion along the bare creek bank. The garden would consist of an area lower than the surrounding land with plants to hold water and serve as a riparian buffer. She stresses the importance of awareness of how Crawford Branch, Franklin’s only urban stream and a main tributary to the Little Tennessee, is affected.

“There is a great variety of species in the Blue Ridge Mountains that we have to protect. We have some of the rarest plants and animals,” Scott says.

Scott is an environmental advocate in part because the time she has served on the planning board has made her aware of growth’s impact on the natural world.

“I talk to teachers, students, small businessmen and retired people. Others may talk to developers, but this is the point of view I know,” she said.

Citizen input from the beginning is vital to any zoning changes or land-use planning, according to Scott.
“People have different opinions than I do. Some may think Highway 441 with all the signs looks great. People need to be involved, see pictures of different types of development and identify what they like,” Scott said.

In the end, she says making these kinds of decisions is something she doesn’t take lightly.

“It’s humbling to be speaking for people and making decisions with lasting effects,” she said.

 

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The Smoky Mountain News