Master Plan
John Edwards October 15th, 2008
“On July 25, 2008 I wrote an article for the Valley Voice outlining the beginnings of a community development Master Plan. The plan was warmly received by Wears Valley residents, which has prompted further structuring of the details.
While we’re still in the beginning stages of assembling that plan, and it may be a bit premature to be discussing the details, events in the Valley continue to unfold that makes our presentation to you here and now necessary to ensure the vision we are considering.
Elements of our Master Plan currently include:
- Endorsement of the Hillside Taskforce’s Development Guidelines in two parts:
- Encourage compliance for new development
- Voluntary initiative for promoting the Taskforce’s ideal of “Visually Subordinate” for existing development
- Construct a Greenway parallel to Wears Valley Rd. and Cove Creek.
- A grant application is currently being submitted to Economic Development coordinator Alan Newton for the creation of a greenway along Cove Creek (similar to the one in Townsend).
- The tentative name of the greenway is Crowson Trail after Wears Valley founder, Aaron Crowson.
- Vision Engineering, Commissioner Clabo, the FOWV, and I are currently working on the details. Property owners along the greenway will be contacted in the upcoming days to negotiate their acceptance of the proposed route.
- Development of the Foothills Parkway right-of way as a trail instead of a parkway.
- This was also the conclusion of the Rte. 321 Taskforce, and I understand that $100,000 has been committed to the idea.
- Construct a Cultural Center at the intersection of the Foothills Parkway and Wears Valley Rd. – and the two trail systems.
- Widen Wears Valley Rd. to three lanes to allow for a center turning lane.
- Plan a community park in association with the proposed greenway.
- Preserve the Valley’s cultural heritage by promoting associated development standards for the Wears Valley Rd. corridor.
- Promote Agri-tourism as the development model. Businesses with a farm-related theme.
- New structures visually subordinate to the landscape. Low-key signage, rural architectural style and massing, shielded lighting, and an emphasis on landscaping.
- Other cultural uses might include antique stores, and arts & crafts related businesses.
We have been encouraged by the addition of a Tennessee State Bank to Wears Valley and the pending construction of the Food City. We had contacted both of these businesses regarding their plans for construction, and have expressed our concerns that they fit the overall theme we are trying to develop. The bank has a beautiful building. We have written Food City CEO Steven Smith asking him to consider a development model that would integrate with our long-range plans, and forego their standard urban design.
We ask that the Planning Commission deliberate Wears Valley submittals with these goals in mind, and help us plan for this future – that the community endorses.”
Written by Peter Bush