Hopper Road property annexed into city amid neighbors' safety concerns

Developers can now begin the plat process for a proposed 37-home subdivision on Hopper Road, following the Johnson City Commission's approval of the property's annexation and zoning assignment Thursday night. The board's unanimous approval comes amid public upset over safety issues on Hopper and Indian Ridge roads, which would each be an outlet to the proposed subdivision if approved. "I can't tell you the number of times that I feel like I have seen my life pass before my eyes," said Teresa Treadway, a resident who lives nearby the proposed development, during public comment. "Road improvements can be delayed, construction schedules can change, budgets can be adjusted, but if a preventable tragedy occurs while we are waiting, there's no 'undo' button." Several residents like Treadway, who live next door or near the proposed development, called on the commission to vote down the zoning ordinance or defer it back to the planning commission for further discussion. While the zoning ordinance approved by the commission Thursday night does have a concept plan for the development attached to it, the developer still must complete a traffic study and address any identified needs with city staff before construction begins. Before voting 'yes' on the ordinance, Commissioner Todd Fowler acknowledged the safety issues on Hopper and Indian Ridge. He said he'd make sure the developers work with city staff to address issues of blind hills, narrow lanes and speed on both roadways. "I am going to hold the developer and the city staff accountable to make sure this is safer than it is right now," Fowler said. Commissioner Joe Wise commented on the forthcoming work the developer will have to do with city staff. "They can't go start putting the shovel in the dirt if this passes tonight," Wise said. "They've got to get engineers, and they've got a lot of boxes they have to check before the first shovel is hitting the ground." Wise later noted that without annexing the property, the city would not have any regulatory authority over potential developer improvements to the roadway. "We're putting a lot of confidence in the developer and the traffic engineers and staff, but it's only as we move this forward that we're going to make any kind of progress with some of the fundamental issues," Wise said. The 13.5-acre property is owned by sisters Eugenia Thomas Fox and Donna Fox Hobbs. Landstar is the developer on the project. The owners have previously said they hope for the development to be a home to working professionals in the area. In 2025, they requested the land be zoned for an eventual 105 townhomes, but withdrew the proposal after the city commission shot it back to the planning commission. The commission will have its final vote on both a voluntary annexation request and a zoning assignment for the property Thursday. If both are approved, the owners can move forward with the plat process for the development. A public hearing will be held before the commission votes on either the annexation request and the zoning assignment for the property, according to Thursday's agenda.