Phase I of Lakeshore Loudon approved

The development will add more than 90 homes, multiple businesses

Alyssa B. Martin news-herald.net

The Loudon Regional Planning Commission has approved Phase I of the Lakeshore Loudon Project.

Designed by Dover Signature Properties, the project will add 96 residential units — a combination of apartments and townhomes — with 7,600 square feet of commercial space to the old Hutch Manufacturing property.

The project will span north and south of U.S. Highway 11, along the Tennessee River.

‘IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THAT AREA WOULD LIKE TO SEE’

During the Planning Commission meeting held Wednesday, Dec. 4, each representative unanimously voted — with conditions — to start Phase I.

The project is expected to begin, if all goes as planned, around the beginning of February and take about 24 to 36 months to complete, according to Loudon City Mayor and Previous Interim City Manager Jeff Harris.

“There’s a café plan, which is, I think, 1,500 square feet — and then there’s 6,000 square feet of retail space on the bottom floor and apartments on top.

“It’s mixed-use,” Harris said. “It could be anything from a retail store to a grocery store or barbershops, beauty salons. It depends on what that area would like to see.”

One of the conditions the Planning Commission placed on the project is the completion of a traffic-impact study to determine how the influx of people will affect Downtown Loudon. Barring any major issues, Harris said the study will most likely present a plan to re-route traffic.

‘WE HAVE ONE SHOT TO GET THIS RIGHT’

This project was initially proposed in 2021 and seemingly hasn’t seen much progress since then from the public.

However, that’s not really the case.

“There have been hours and hours of meetings — with our staff and Rick Dover (managing director of Dover Signature Properties), his architectural firm, the firm he’s dealing with, his engineers — and there’s been a lot of work put into this,” Harris said.

“But like I’ve told Rick several times, we have one shot to get this right and … we don’t just want a subdivision on the water.

“We want a place that’s unique … a place where people can live, work and play all in the same area.

Although Harris did say there’ll be some traffic concerns, “because you can’t do a development like this and not have some repercussions. But I think we will make sure we work through all those.”

‘A LEGACY PROJECT THAT’S GOING TO OUTLIVE A LOT OF US’

Accommodating parking was another concern for this project. However, Dover was able to allocate two parking spaces per unit and include ample commercial parking as well.

Phase I of this project will also include an addition to the current walking trail that is along the Tennessee River and a ramp that will allow residents and visitors to the area to kayak, canoe and paddle board in the water.

There is hope to add a water sports rental store to the river’s shoreline in coming years, too.

“Our staff has just done a tremendous job of working with Rick and his architectural firm, because this is a major project.

“It’s a legacy project that’s going to outlive a lot of us — so we’ll make sure we do it right,” Harris said.

On Dec. 4, the city of Loudon’s Historic Zoning Commission voted in favor of “a certificate of appropriateness” for Lakeshore Loudon. This vote means the zoning commissioners have approved the project’s façade and deem it acceptable for Loudon’s Historical District.