The delay has been caused because the county is considering a possible change to the road standards. Currently, a development of more than 9 lots can only connect to a county road of 20' wide, measured inside white line to inside white line. The new change, being considered, would allow a developer, at the developer's expense, to bring the county road up the 20' standard from the development to the intersection of the nearest existing road that meets the 20' standard.

The debate on the 20' road standard goes like this. If a developer wants a development of more than 9 lots they would have to bring the road up to the 20' standard at their cost. The thinking is, the community where the development is located would get an  improved road, at least for some distance but would also get a lot more homes and lots more traffic.

The other argument is, why even allow a developer to widen a road. Aside from getting a partial improved road, the only one truly benefiting from higher density would be the developer who would be able to build more homes.

The county attorney is working on the language for rules that would allow for the widening of roads to be paid for by developers if the county commission decides to allow that.

The Turner development, while fronting on Hwy. 321 wants to connect to Friendsville Road which is only 14' wide at the development entrance. However, the developer is willing to widen Friendsville Road from their development to Hwy. 321 if the county adopts such an option. However, Friendsville Road going south to Greenback is very narrow and would not be improved.

Hopefully, the commission will have the information from the county attorney by the March workshop to open this discussion.