Michael Highfill

Key discussions included the Chairman's remarks regarding work on the Comprehensive Plan and updates from the City Administrator concerning the Lakeside Box Culvert project and the Mooney Street project, for which the Board of Aldermen accepted a bid. Significant time was spent analyzing zoning plats data compared to the Comprehensive Plan metrics for R1, R3, and R2 zones. New business focused on recommending the rezoning of Woodland Hill Terrace, Phase 1, and Logan Estates, Phase 2, Addition 8, from Commercial to R3 classification. The commission also appointed members for the 2026 term.

The Board of Aldermen meeting included a presentation of the audit for the fiscal year ending 06/30/2025, which resulted in a clean opinion; key findings noted increased general fund revenues due to a tax increase and increased water/sewer fund revenue due to rate adjustments, alongside a recommendation to acquire cyber insurance. The Planning and Zoning Board Chairman discussed the comprehensive plan review, zoning matters, and future vision, including a review of national rental percentages. In the Administrator's Report, updates were provided on infrastructure projects, including concrete pouring for the Lakeside Box Culvert and operational status of the clarifier, as well as a note regarding an outage at Canary and Mockingbird streets. New business involved the first and second readings of several ordinances, including amendments related to residential density requirements, planned community unit development, and an authorization agreement with Barker Phillips Jackson, along with an amendment to the definition section.

The primary discussion topic during this meeting was a Planned Community Unit Development, which would allow for a change in lot size if 10% of the land is deemed unusable to the developer. There were no public comments made during the Citizen Input segment.

The meeting addressed citizen input regarding a request to re-zone Commercial lots (Lot 1, 2.4 acres) to R3 near the business Imperial, related to the Woodland Hills Terrace Subdivision. The City Administrator provided updates on ongoing projects, including Lakeside and the Mooney Street project slated for the spring. Key business items included the final plat approval for Woodland Hill Terrace, Phase 4, and the recommended approval for an administrative subdivision of Tract 2 (2.36 acres) along US 60 for annexation into the City of Rogersville. Zoning discussion was deferred to the next meeting.

The public hearing addressed two primary agenda items. The first item concerned accessory buildings, specifically storage containers, per code section 405.340, with no public comment offered. The second major discussion involved the Morelock Rezone request to change a property from C-1 to R-3 zoning, located at Center Street and Harper Street. The proposer presented arguments regarding the difficulty in marketing the property for commercial use and compared potential property tax revenues under R-1, R-3, and commercial zoning designations.