For months now, Blount County businessman, Rodney Murphy has been threatening to open a new rock quarry on the old Hutton farm on Hwy. 95 in Greenback. Problem is, the property isn't zoned for a quarry and likely never will be. This hasn't stopped Murphy and his partner, failed developer Mike Ross, from making a splash around Greenback claiming they can open a quarry without the city or county's approval. They have even gone so far as to bring a different businesses trailer on to the property apparently to give the impression that they are about to do something.

Under city and county zoning regulations, before the property could become a quarry:

1) The Greenback City council would have to approve a zoning change, and
2) The county planning board of zoning appeals would have to grant a special exception to permit a quarry.

Neither of which is likely to ever happen

Apparently, Murphy and Ross have been telling folks around town, they don't need any local approvals to open their quarry. This is not correct. There are no state agencies that can over ride local zoning regulations. And even if the pair did try to pull some kind of backdoor shenanigans, the county and city will take any and all actions needed to stop them.

Based on the yard signs around town, the vast majority of Greenback residents are opposed to the quarry and the idea that Blount county business would try to muscle in on their city. It all started out nice enough with Murphy making all kinds of promises to help the city, the school and the fire department, but apparently, when the carrot didn't work, they've decided to use a stick.

If anybody should be watching their back, it's Rodney Murphy. Mike Ross has left other business partners holding the bag when things go bad.

Lot of folks watching closely. 

Below is information on the rezoning of the property from a previous story.

The property is currently zoned M-1 Industrial. Under Greenback zoning regulations, neither a quarry nor a housing development or any residential building is allowed in the M-1 Industrial zone. The only way the property could be a quarry or a housing development is if the Greenback city council rezones the property. As M-1 Industrial zone, there are regulations of what type of industry can locate on the property.

Here's how the process would have to go.

1. The property owner or designee would have to request a change in zoning from M-1 Industrial to A-1, to the Loudon County Planning Commission.
    
2. The Loudon County Planning Commission, based on whatever criteria they have, would either recommend approval or denial of the rezone.
    
3. Then it would be up to the council to make the final decision. They DO NOT have to take the recommendation from the the Loudon County Planning Commission whether it's approval or denial. The planning commission is simply a recommending body only.
    
4. The Greenback city council would then have to decide if they want to rezone the property that would allow a quarry or housing. They DO NOT have to rezone the property. If not rezoned, the property remains M-1, prohibiting a quarry or housing.
    
5. If the council decides to rezone the property to A-1, which would permit a quarry, the property owner or designee would then have to make application to the Loudon County Board of Zoning of Appeals, BZA, for a special exception to operate a quarry. The BZA could approve or deny the special exception to operate a quarry on the property. If denied, no quarry would be allowed but under A-1 zoning, housing of one house per acre would be permitted.

The Greenback city council is the big player in this process. If they do decide to rezone, that would indicate they are in favor of the quarry and could even include that language in their vote. If the council knowingly votes to rezone for a quarry, the Loudon County BZA could likely take that into consideration in their decision to grant a special exception for a quarry, but they don't have to.

The Greenback city council is made up of four aldermen and the mayor, all five have a vote. This means that a majority of three votes would be needed to rezone.