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The Blount County Commission on Thursday postponed a decision on regulating private airstrips until August. Commissioners did act on a request for funding to finish the first phase of the new animal shelter.

Some commissioners expressed discomfort with the proposed airstrip regulations as written.

"I oppose the resolution," Commissioner Robert Proffitt said. "I do not like the idea of having airstrips in a residential zone. "

"There is nothing in here about noise buffers," Commissioner Wendy Pitts Reeves said. "... I don't think there should be any lighting on these kinds of things out in the country at night."

Commissioner Ron French made the motion to defer action on the regulations until next month. Commissioners voted 18-3 to approve the motion. Only Commissioners Gary Farmer, Scott Helton and Gerald Kirby voted no.

The proposed regulations would allow private airstrips as a special exception in the R-1 zones.

The county would require that "All landing strips shall be situated in such a manner that under no circumstances shall an approach or departure be over a residence, excluding the owners, provided that the residence be located a minimum of 2,000 feet beyond the end or side of the required landing strip length."

If eventually approved, the regulations will not affect Maryville developer Dennis Weaver's planned Into the Wind Airpark, which has already been under construction.

"That ship has sailed," Farmer said. "We are trying to set up something to prevent it from happening again. That was the whole point. ... If this does not pass, there could be another private airstrip started tomorrow without violating any current zoning restrictions we have."

Neighbors living near the planned airstrip on property off Jeffries Hollow Road near the Sky View subdivision in Seymour have protested Weaver's project.

John Carlton Templeton, a nearby resident, said he and his neighbors could not believe that the county would allow the construction of an airstrip in their community.

"What the heck is going on here? We could not believe that under our own noses ... a so-called developer was going to build a airport figuratively in our back yards."

The county should not allow airstrips in residential areas, Templeton said.

"We, of course, see that as a step in the wrong direction," he said. "They should not be permitted in R-1 zones."

Building Commissioner Roger Fields said that, under current regulations, a private-use airstrip would be permitted as a residential accessory use.

"It's a use for the residents ... it's just that these residents can own planes," Fields said.

"The more items that come up that are allowed due to interpretation of anyone ... The fault is going to land at their feet," Walker said. "I hope they are willing to accept the responsibility for their interpretations."

French asked that the Planning Commission develop an amendment to increase the documentation required for grading permits needed for airstrips and require a 60-day public input period.



"Now we're going to invest another $200,000 because the animal care foundation cannot raise the funds," King said. "Why are we even considering Phase II? The original plans have stalled and proved to be bad oversight."

The organization also was able to bump up the initial direct funding by an additional $20,000 because of a timely grant from the Charles and Susan Fouche Foundation. It has also brought in about $325,000 to $350,000 in 'in-kind' donations for the shelter.

The facility can be up and running in four to five weeks if the expenditure is approved.

During public comments at the end of the meeting, Lon Herzbrun, president of Olympia Athletic Club, told commissioners that Blount Memorial Hospital, which is tax-exempt, is unfairly competing with his business.

"This is unfair," Herzbrun said. ... "They are competing with a lot of other people than myself, I'm sure."

Animal shelter

The commission voted unanimously to spend $197,000 to get the new county animal shelter up and running. The county has been involved in a public-private partnership to build the new shelter. The Smoky Mountain Animal Care Foundation has been raising funds for the effort.

The Blount County animal center is set to open in three phases. Phase I consists of operational kennels and limited office space. The animal shelter is being built behind the Boys and Girls Club, 241 Currie Ave, in Maryville. The first phase will be bare bones.

The estimated cost to build the facility as designed is $1.6 million. The County Commission previously appropriated $430,000, which included $80,000 raised by SMACF and $350,000 in seed money that the commission authorized in 2007 that allowed the core of the facility to be built.

Linda King, of Citizens for Blount County's Future, spoke against spending any more county funds on the project.