RaceTrac Travel Center site plan gets tentative OK

NEWPORT — The Newport Regional Planning Commission met in regular session on Tuesday afternoon. It gave tentative approval for the site plan for RaceTrac Travel Center at 1100 West Highway 25-70 pending staff approval of minor revisions.

The site plan required some revisions per the recommendations of Planner Kathryn Baldwin. Baldwin explained there is an ordinance that requires landscaping between the building and public street and while the plan was good for the side of the building on Generation Drive there needed to be some on the side adjacent to the state highway. She also said there was a large island that needed landscaping added.

The RaceTrac representative said that all of the changes could be made easily.

Gary Carver, who is serving the city in a consultant capacity, explained that the planning commission usually approves the site with the caveat that the corrections be made. A motion was made by Commissioner Steve Smith with a second from Commissioner Randall Freeman to approve the site plan with staff approval after revisions are made. The commission passed the motion.

The other item on the agenda concerned the annexation requisition of property owned by Donald “Jabo” and Tammy Francis off Tucson Road in the golf course community. Attorney John Bell is representing the Francises regarding the matter. At a past meeting, the owners of Smokey Mountain Golf Course and Smokey Mountain Blue Lagoon were represented by attorney David Hamilton who spoke out against the annexation.

City Attorney Terry Hurst was unable to attend Tuesday’s meeting, but had previously said he would recommend the request be tabled until the lawsuit involving the rock quarry is resolved.

There are three parcels of land on one deed, but only one of those parcels is in the city limits according to the city records. The Francises want all three parcels to be in the city limits.

Other business

There was no other business requiring the commission’s action, but Carver reported that the building past the annex was going to open as a restaurant called Simple in the near future. He said the property is owned by Brett Kickliter and it will be opened by a restaurateur who has had success in Knoxville.

Carver also reported there had been discussions with a housing developer looking to build houses off the bypass near Rankin. The project would initially involve 50 houses.

There was also discussion of the project mentioned at the recent Partnership meeting, which involved a hospitality development on Douglas Lake that will include over 800 units ranging from cottages to cabins to RV spots as well as restaurants and a marina. The development will be in the vicinity of Huff Hollow Road and would require annexation.