Greenback subdivision moves forw

GREENBACK, Tenn. (WATE) — As more people move to the area, a new subdivision could be coming to Greenback. Turner Homes plans to bring around 20 homes to an 18-acre plot of land off Highway 321 and Friendsville Road.

As the need for housing increases, county officials said they are trying to keep Loudon County’s rural and agricultural roots.

“Our number one goal is to maintain our quaintness and our rural areas, keep those still country, so to speak,” said Loudon County Mayor Buddy Bradshaw.

With Loudon County being one of the fastest-growing counties in East Tennessee, Bradshaw said Greenback has the potential to expand quickly.

“It’s a perfect opportunity, if not controlled, it could really blow up quickly because of its desirable location,” he said.

Located next to Blount County, and being right off Highway 321, builders with Turner Homes agree. County commissioners said the development would not have been approved unless it abided by their strict policy.

“It’s a large area, a lot of rural area over there, and those people were very instrumental in wanting to control over development and overgrowth,” said 5th district commissioner Van Shaver. “So part of our policies that we developed were very much considered to be important to the folks who live over in the Greenback area.”

Shaver said their maximum density is one-half-acre per house, which is similar to what Turner Homes proposed. They told 6 News the subdivision will be built on 26 lots with less than two homes per acre.

“We want it to be controlled, we want to be managed like it has been for many, many years,” said Shaver. “We don’t want apartments on every corner, and we don’t want these shoe box subdivisions all over the place, so that’s exactly what brought us to the development of our new zoning policies was the citizen input 100%.”

While both Shaver and Bradshaw agree the area needs to adapt with the growing population, they also want to protect what Loudon County is known for.

“We’re one of the largest agricultural counties in the state of Tennessee, number one milk producer in the state of Tennessee, and so we want to protect our farmlands as well,” said Bradshaw.

While Loudon County Commission approved to rezone the area for residential living, the development will still need to go through the planning commission before it can break ground.