Commission to weigh Culver's deal, controversial Antioch rezoning Thursday

A sale agreement for a future Culver's restaurant, a controversial rezoning ordinance on Antioch Road and a PILOT program for affordable housing are among several items on the Johnson City commission's docket Thursday. The commission will meet Thursday at 6 p.m. in the city hall commission chambers, 601 E. Main St. Here's the biggest highlights from the board's agenda. Sale agreement for Culver's on State of Franklin The city commission will consider approving a sale agreement Thursday that will allow a Culver's franchisee to purchase 1.88 acres of land from the city for $1.2 million. Located in the former Optimist Park, the future Culver's would sit on Sells Avenue behind the Publix on West State of Franklin Road in Johnson City. If the sale is okay-ed by the commission, a 150-day due diligence period will begin for the buyer. If this goes smoothly, a rezoning for the property will have three readings before the commission. Antioch Road rezoning on final read A rezoning ordinance accompanied by plans for a 48-home development on Antioch Road is on its third and final reading before the commission Thursday. Residents of the Woodhill subdivision, which neighbors the proposed development, have expressed strong disapproval of the rezoning at previous public hearing and comment periods. Many locals have said they're concerned particularly about the traffic impacts of a proposed road that would connect two existing stubs through a piece of undeveloped land on Antioch. If passed by the commission Thursday, the 24.6-acre parcel will be rezoned to an RP-2 planned residential district from its current agricultural zoning. After this, the developer may begin the plat approval process. $225k increase for Sinking Creek Pump Station agreement An amendment that would authorize additional funding for the city's existing engineering agreement for large-scale upgrades to the Sinking Creek pump station is up for commission approval Thursday. The amendment would authorize another $225,000 for system improvements to the city's largest wastewater lift station, according to the commission agenda. If approved, it would bring the total agreement with environmental engineering consultant Hazen and Sawyer to $1.75 million. With commission approval, construction would be allowed to continue at the site with a final completion this summer, according to the agenda. The Hazen and Sawyer agreement is just one part of the much larger project that was initiated in 2021. Once all work is completed, the improvements are expected to extend the station's lifespan by 25 years. MOU for Lower Tannery Knobs trail upgrades The commission will consider approving a memorandum of understanding with Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association of the Tri-Cities (SORBA-Tri-Cities) for the administration of an up to $450,000 grant to build trails at Lower Tannery Knobs. SORBA-Tri-Cities was awarded a State of Tennessee Project Diabetes grant, through which the state will provide up to $150,000 per year for three years to support the Johnson City Parks and Recreation project. The MOU was initially up for approval at the March 5 commission meeting, but the commission tabled it to allow parks and recreation staff additional time for edits. The agreement, if approved by the commission, would require trail buildout to be complete by June 30, 2028. City officials have said they aim to have the other portion of Tannery Knobs improvements, a new bicycle playground, completed by this fall. Fairview housing PILOT Now that the Washington County Commission has granted its approval, the Johnson City Housing Authority is seeking the city's final rubber stamp on a payment-in-lieu-of-tax (PILOT) program to rebuild the dormant Fairview affordable housing complex. Although the county approved a resolution for the program, JCHA cannot enter the PILOT until it receives the city commission's approval. Without the PILOT, JCHA would not be able to complete the demolition and rebuild of the apartments, which have been empty for more than a decade. JC Schools bids, purchase Two lowest bidders for Johnson City Schools are up for commission approval Thursday, both for Science Hill High School. One of the bids, a $98,797 pending award to Mobile Fixture and Equipment, would cover the replacement of a walk-in freezer and costs to remove the existing system at SHHS. If approved, this funding would come out of the city's JCS food service fund. The other bid, $74,000, would be awarded to Stanbury Uniforms LLC to purchase 200 new uniforms for the SHHS marching band, if approved by the commission. The school system also has a $53,432 purchase request to renew its yearly accounting and human resources software licenses. The renewal represents a 3.8% increase in costs from last year, according to the commission agenda.