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News Updates
Historic Log Cabin Given Approval At Museum Grounds
Source: The Greeneville Sun
by Amy Rose
Date: 2008-07-09
The Greeneville Regional Planning Commission on Tuesday approved a site plan to reconstruct an 18th century log cabin on the grounds of the Nathanael Greene Museum, despite a recommendation against it.
State planner Ronda Sawyer told commissioners meeting as the Greeneville Board of Zoning Appeals that she did not see a compelling reason for granting a front-yard setback variance to allow the cabin to be located at the museum site.
Sawyer said adding the cabin would be "overbuilding of the site," and state law requires a compelling reason -- like exceptional topographic conditions -- to grant a variance.
The cabin, known as the "Babb Family Log House," was built around 1787 in what is now known as the Babbs Mill area of northeastern Greene County, off the Kingsport Highway, according to Carla Bewley, a member of the museum's board of directors.
Bewley and the Rev. Dr. Dan Donaldson, president of the museum's board, attended the meeting.
Placement of the reconstructed cabin was approved on April 15 by the Greeneville Board of Mayor and Aldermen, subject to approval by the planning commission.
The 480-square-foot structure would be placed in front of the former Andrew Johnson School, near the corner of South Main and McKee streets.
Bewley has said the Babb family had dismantled the cabin and wants it to be preserved for viewing by the public.
Before the planning commission considered the site plan, contractor Marshall Ricker asked for the related variance to be considered first.
Board Of Zoning Appeals
The commission then recessed and met as the Board of Zoning Appeals to consider a front-yard setback variance from 30 feet to 12 feet, 8 inches at 310 S. Main St. for the log cabin.
Jim Snyder, Greeneville building official, read a portion of the state law that lists the compelling reasons needed for granting variances.
Sawyer, the state planner, said the justifications she has seen for the variance have been "personal issues."
Ricker said the cabin "would be quite a nice asset for the community" and would "announce" the downtown area as visitors turned the corner from West Main to South Main streets.
"It's a beautiful structure, and I think that's a fitting site for it," Ricker said.
Board member Pete Hayes said a compelling reason for granting the variance is that the cabin would increase tourism.
"There's no practical way to use the property otherwise, and it fits in with what's there," Hayes said of the cabin.
He asked if any complaints or objections to the cabin had been expressed. Snyder replied that he had not heard any.
After approving a side-yard setback variance from 10 feet to 8 feet, 6 inches for the Howard Pharmacy Shopping Center site at 1305 Tusculum Blvd., the board reconvened as the planning commission and granted final approval to the site plan for the cabin.
Brad Peters, city engineer, told the commission that he had not received plans for grading, draining and erosion control at the cabin site.
The site plan was approved, subject to review of those plans.
Commissioner Ben Brooks, a member of the museum's board of directors, abstained from the votes on the cabin.
Howard Pharmacy Site
In other business, the commission granted final approval for a new one-story 2,520-square-foot building on 0.85 acres of the Howard Pharmacy Shopping Center property.
Bill Onkst, of Azimuth Engineering, presented the site plan for a proposed sewing shop.
Snyder said the plan did not include adequate parking for retail space, according to the city's zoning ordinance.
He noted that when the commission considered the concept of the plan in June, Onkst was asked to change the plan by moving the proposed building an additional 10 feet away from the existing building and include more parking.
Onkst moved the building, but did not include more parking. He said he thought the commission asked him to move the building to allow for more parking, if necessary.
Commission members told Onkst he would have to request a variance if the additional parking is not included in the plan.
Heritage Bank Branch
The commission also granted final site plan approval for a branch of Heritage Community Bank at 3626 E. Andrew Johnson Highway, near the Wal-Mart Supercenter.
Plans include a one-story 5,200-square-foot building on 1.47 acres.
Chad Smith of Construction Consultants said the plans have been changed from a two-story building.
Snyder said the bank's driveway to Harlan Street will be about 90 feet from the intersection of the street and the highway.
Pete Hayes, a branch manager of the bank, abstained from the votes on the new branch.
The commission also approved a revised site plan for the Johnny Honeycutt property with three buildings on 0.35 acres at 1202 Tusculum Blvd.
Administrative Approvals
Sawyer presented three plats for which she had given administrative approval.
State law allows Sawyer to grant administrative approval to smaller one- and two-lot plats.
The administrative approvals, which also were approved by the commission, included:
* the re-plat of the GCS Partnership property on Rockwell Drive to provide an easement for the Greeneville Light & Power System;
* the division of the Sam Cogdell property on West Panoramic View Drive into two lots on 4.59 acres; and
* the redivision of the Donald L. Shelton Jr. property on Bolton Road to combine three lots into two lots on 4.47 acres.
Annexation Studies
Sawyer also presented annexation studies for the West Andrew Johnson Highway and Whirlwind Road areas. Snyder asked the commissioners to review the studies and provide any comments.
He said the studies will be on the agenda for the commission's next meeting in August.
Prior to adjournment, Chairman W.T. Daniels presented a letter of recognition to Andy Southerland in appreciation for his eight years of service on the commission.
The presentation was followed by applause from the crowd.
Also recognized was longtime member Bill Seneker, who did not attend the meeting.
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