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The Blount County Planning Commission is just about ready to make a decision on proposed changes to the county's 1999 Policies Plan and other guidance documents but first dedicate some time to digesting citizen input.

"We've gone this far," Planning Commissioner Ed Stucky said. "We need to do our due diligence."

Planning commissioners decided Thursday to hold an Aug. 19 work session to consider voluminous citizen comments gathered during a recent input session before they take a final vote on revisions at its September meeting.

"My main concern ... is getting the word out to the public that we're nearing the end," Commissioner Scott Helton said.

In past months, members of the Planning Commission have assented to including language in the plan about developing a green infrastructure plan -- including aspects such as preserved farms, open space and parks and greenways -- for the county.

Open-space rules sought

The Planning Commission also indicated it wants some sort of open-space requirements for county subdivisions. At a past meeting, commissioners said that it was time to set mandatory guidelines for requiring subdivisions to set aside open space instead of just making recommendations.

The Policies Plan is just a guiding document. Once revised, it would be up to the County Commission to ultimately put any regulations into effect.

In other business, the Planning Commission approved site plans for additions at the Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center in Townsend and for a car wash at 1100 Foch Street. The commission denied plans for a office structure at Hickory Hills Trailer Park, 474 Beacon Way.

Plats for 24 lots OK'd

In addition, the commissioners approved final plats for 24 lots in the Amburn Estates subdivision off Nine Mile Road, 26 lots for the Overlook at Montvale Phase 2A, and seven lots of the Putter's Green subdivision off Lee Shirley Road.

During the meeting, Helton said he would like to see the Planning Commission beging to look at future traffic needs when creating requirements for subdivisions.

"I'm sort of disappointed (when) I don't see an egress lane or a turn lane," he said. "... I just really wish this body would take a stand on turn lanes and egress lanes for subdivisions."