Tammy Cheek-farragutpress.com

Concord Christian School has confirmed seeking property in Loudon County to expand its school and athletic programs, a CCS press release stated Tuesday afternoon, July 30.

“Concord Christian School is currently evaluating a piece of property in Loudon County that would afford the school an excellent opportunity to further advance their ability to provide students with additional academic and athletic opportunities,” the release stated. “... Many of CCS’s current families are from Loudon County, and the presence of a premier educational institution at the new location is anticipated to attract additional families to the area, contributing to local business and community growth.

“With the increased growth CCS continues to experience, this initiative permits us to expand educational opportunities and provide Christ-centered education beyond West Knoxville to the surrounding areas,” said Donald Snider, CCS Head of School.

“We are excited about the positive impact this expansion will have on our students, staff and the broader community,” said Scott Crawford, executive Pastor of Administration at First Baptist Concord, parent church of CCS. “Our goal is to create an environment where every student reaches their full potential and impacts the world for Christ in best ways.”

School officials are looking at 52 acres along Highway 70 east of Lenoir City and “adjacent to Stone Crossing and Avalon subdivisions in the 5th District,” which is owned by “the Smith family” who are FBC members, said Van Shaver, 5th District Loudon County Commissioner.

“They are talking to the family,” he added. “They are trying to find a place to do sports fields since (Town of Farragut) doesn’t allow overhead lighting” on the field of its current location in Farragut along Kingston Pike.

Shaver said the CCS plan he is aware of only includes the high school and “would be over the next 10 years.

“The church would first build sports fields: football, baseball, etc., in the first five years, and the high school would come in the second five years,” he said.

However, the proposed athletic field site already has been met with opposition from neighboring residents. “They don’t care for the noise, sporting events and lights,” Shaver said. “It will have to come to (Loudon) County Commission for approval.”

Withholding his own opinion on the sale “until all the information is available,” Shaver said, “It’s up to the citizens to decide what they want.”

While conceding he “is not an appraiser,” Shaver said, “It’s a prime piece” of property.

“It’s not unknown for property in that area to run $20,000 an acre, sometimes much more,” he added.

Highway 70 only has two lanes with no turn lanes, so Shaver anticipates a turn lane would be required.

“If (County Commission) approves the rezoning, (Tennessee Department of Transportation) would require a turn lane,” he said.

Meanwhile, Shaver said many other Loudon County Commissioners are in the dark on the purchase. “It’s so early and preliminary,” he added.

The commissioner said this is the second time the church/school has looked at property around Highway 70, adding a different parcel was looked at by CCS officials in 2013.