letterstotheeditor
Improve ‘how things are done’ in Town
I attended my first Farragut Board of (Mayor and) Aldermen meeting (March 10) over proposed zoning changes being considered. It was quite a learning experience.
It is highly unusual for a town to propose major zoning changes without someone filling out an application. I have served on my local zoning commission in my former hometown.
A governing body is supposed to be neutral and balance the rights of existing developed property and property owners who want to develop their property. The Farragut Aldermen, by leading the charge to make major changes, are giving the impression they are trying to pick winners and losers.
Vice Mayor Louise Povlin stated “… on Watt Road, do we really want another tire store?” It is neither her’s nor the Aldermen’s job to decide whether a business can exist or where it sets up. If the location can handle the activity on it, without significantly disrupting the neighbors and area in general, it should be approved.
The government has two main responsibilities in land use. First, creating and following a comprehensive plan to ensure the area can handle the activity. Atlanta did not follow this and paid the price. Raleigh-Durham and Nashville have followed this idea, and it shows. Farragut has needed a professionally designed plan for 20 years. Previous administrations have failed to do this, and the current one has some responsibility for not having a comprehensive plan. We are paying the price today because of it. Forty-five-minute waits to pick up your children at school is symptomatic of poor planning.
The second thing is to properly balance property rights of existing properties against the rights of undeveloped properties. For example, Alderman Povlin referenced the situation with (First) Baptist Church (Concord) wanting to install lights on their sports fields. The lights and resulting activity would be a major change of use. The lights would brighten up a normally dark area. The church can also hold events much later into the night, which would also disrupt the neighboring residences.
The neighborhoods were there first. Established laws and protocols would require the town to deny the lighting. I am perplexed as to why this is still being considered.
My impression after listening to comments from our Aldermen is they do not understand the proper role of government, as I have discussed here.
Alderman Povlin also stated “the Town of Farragut is often the applicant for changes.” Just because it has been done this way, does not mean it is the right way. That attitude in corporate America will get someone fired on the spot.
Farragut has a lot to do to improve how things are done here, and we need a serious focus to make sure we are following proper procedures and best practices. In this case, we are unfortunately not.
Sean Murphy,
Farragut
