Townsend to plan for how future development will fit into its community

Ongoing expansion and advancement in Blount County results all the cities inside of, which is 1 rationale why Townsend Scheduling Commission is updating the city’s land use program.

For the duration of their meeting on Thursday, the planning commission took just one phase forward with the long term in thoughts.

Fee customers voted to develop into a regional organizing overall body for growth jurisdiction more than Tuckaleechee Cove, county zoned home outdoors Townsend’s municipal bounds.

Accomplishing so is a multi-move process and may perhaps eventually be denied, but commission associates agreed that what happens in the county districts encompassing Townsend affect inside metropolis limitations as nicely.

The existing land use and transportation system is dated 2010 to 2020 and is a information for how land should be formulated in Townsend — each lengthy-term and limited-term decisions.

Townsend Town Planner Joe Barrett reported the system to update the land use plan could just take up to two years and the town could employ the service of an outside the house organization to enable.

A committee will be selected by the Board of Commissioners to function on updating the land use approach and could consist of critical stakeholders in the community, like leaders of the Excellent Smoky Mountains Heritage Middle, Minimal River Railroad/Lumber Museum and Townsend Artisan Guild Gallery and Studios.

Commission member Donald Prater emphasized making a public approach to make guaranteed any stakeholder who required to be concerned could be and has a voice in the procedure.

Mayor Michael Talley included that the fee wants to narrow down the vision for the foreseeable future of Townsend whilst however inclusive of exterior enter from the community.

“We want this challenge to truly signify the citizens below in the metropolis and also The Cove at large,” Talley explained. “… It’s likely to outcome everybody.”

Talley included that it’s essential to maintain a stability involving small business and residential. At this place in time, he believes the metropolis must aim more on constructing new residences and cost-effective housing.

“We’re not wanting to get out of hand with tourist developments or retail or small business always,” Talley reported. “We’re seeking to have that character we’ve all arrive to enjoy about Townsend.”

Talley added that utilizing new Census facts will display how dynamics of Townsend have improved considering that 2010 and impact choices about expansion and enhancement moving forward.

For the duration of past night’s scheduling commission assembly, Barrett shared the new preliminary Census information figures.

None of the facts is finalized or revealed nevertheless but believed the inhabitants of Townsend at about 550 men and women, which is an enhance of about 100 individuals from the very last revealed Census data — a 20% inhabitants increase.

“(Data) should really impact some of the policies you may perhaps adopt,” Barrett claimed, “…or how you’re going to transfer ahead by pinpointing what’s heading on in Townsend correct now and what direction you think it is headed. Or, if it is not the direction you want to go, then affect it and adjust the path.”