The recommendation will be made to the Cannon County Commissioners in the December meeting for approval to utilize a planning service after the
Cannon County Planning Commission voted unanimously to make the request.
Planning Commissioners Thad Raines, David George, Carey Hutchins, Brenda
Phillips, Jimmy Mingle and Chairman Boyd Barker were in attendance.
Shannon Copas, planner with the Upper Cumberland Development District was
on hand and discussed planning services and the hot topic of zoning. Mr.
Copas advised the Commission that a zoning plan is a very complex issue.
Copas provides planning services all around the Upper Cumberland and only
two counties in the 14 county Upper Cumberland District have zoning in
place. Those counties consist of Smith and Macon County Several towns and
cities within the various counties have zoning plans including that of
Woodbury. Mr. Copas went on to say that the best way to put together
zoning ordinances is to have the County Planning Commission draw up and
adopt a land use plan. This plan can be adopted without the permission of
the County Commission. The land use plan directs future growth usually
within a 20 year period.
Drawing up a zoning plan usually is a 1 year process on average for towns
and cities. Copas estimates that it would be about a year and a half in
the county. Mr. Copas also stressed that the County would need to hire
someone to enforce zoning whether it be a zoning enforcement officer or
building inspector. This could be a part time position however as the
County could contract with neighboring enforcement officers or building
inspectors. The role of a planning service would be to help draw up the
land use plan and zoning plans and ordinances. The County Planning
Commission would then make a recommendation to the Cannon County
Commissioners for approval of the zoning plan. After answering questions,
the Planning Commissioners then voted to make the recommendation to
utilize a planning service to the Cannon County Commissioners in their
monthly meeting December 13th
