Two major projects up for review by JC planning commission

Planning commissioners will hear plans for a new major subdivision and the expansion of an existing neighborhood that would add a total of 190 new homes to Johnson City. The city's planning commission will consider approving a concept plan for a 97-home subdivision on Claude Simmons Road and a preliminary plat for the next three phases of the Cardinal Forest subdivision at its meeting Tuesday. The commission will meet at city hall, 601 E. Main Street at 6 p.m. New subdivision on Claude Simmons Road The first item up for the planning commission's approval is a concept plan that would add 97 new single-family homes on the corner of Knob Creek Road and Claude Simmons Road. A neighborhood meeting was held on April 1 for the proposed subdivision, according to Tuesday's agenda documents. Forty-six residents were in attendance and voiced concerns about potential traffic increases, crime, property values and the subdivision's lot density being smaller than that of surrounding neighborhoods. A traffic study will be conducted on Claude Simmons and Knob Creek and the smallest proposed lot size is 5,000 square feet according to the agenda. The subdivision would serve Woodland Elementary School. In notes included in the agenda, city staff expressed concerns about some lots having double frontage because they're enclosed by two of the proposed interior roads and the lack of a buffer for one lot that borders Claude Simmons. Despite staff concerns, zoning code doesn't require any changes to be made to the developer's plans and approval of the development was still recommended. A public hearing for the development will be held at Thursday's meeting, which allows community members to speak to the commission in favor or opposition of the decision. The applicant requesting to subdivide the 23-acre lot is Gary Waddell and the land is owned by the Sells family trust. Cardinal Forest phases 4 through 6 A preliminary plat for phases 4, 5 and 6 of the Cardinal Forest subdivision are also up for the planning commission's approval Tuesday. Cardinal Forest is located in North Johnson City with outlets to Bristol Highway from Meridale Drive and Green Valley Drive. The subdivision is owned by Development Holdings, LLC and Gary Phillips is the applicant. The plans show an addition of 93 new single-family homes to the existing neighborhood. The smallest lot size shown is 5,200 square feet and the largest lot size is upwards of 12,800 square feet, according to the submitted plans. In addition to the plat approval, a variance for the sidewalk and cross section requirements along Grafton Avenue, which is planned to eventually connect to Hampshire Street and Devonshire Avenue. The variance would require a sidewalk on only one instead of both sides of Grafton, due to "the steep slope and topographical conditions," according to the agenda. A variance is an authorized exception to established planning rules. If the planning commission approves the preliminary plat Tuesday, the developer can submit construction plans to the city for staff approval. After those plans are approved, construction may begin.