Total Disaster 30
Bait And Switch?

Last year, the Lenoir Council approved the annexation and rezone of two parcels of land on Town Creek Road West. The request came from Keel Town Creek LLC. According to the developer, they planned to build 60 single family homes, Later amended to 59, on Town Creek Road West near the entrance to Sharp Estates. The development would be comprised of two separate parcels with a total of nearly 16 acres. In December 2024, Keel bought the two parcels for $1,400,000.00.

Keel had presented to the Lenoir City Planning Commission and the city council that they were going to develop the property with the 60 houses. Last week Keel registered a Memorandum of Contract with D R Horton to sell them the lots for construction. So essentially, Keel, whoever that is, seems to be fronting for D R Horton. Everybody knows what D R Horton builds.

Here's the major issue. Town Creek Road West is a county road. County road standards prohibit any developments of more than 9 lots to connect to any county road less than 20' wide, measured inside white line to inside white line. 60 lots is definitely more than 9 lots. So legally, Keel/D R Horton can not connect their development to Town Creek Road West. Town Creek Road West is only 17' wide at the development and even less in many places. The developer must receive approval from the county planning office and the county highway department for a connect to any county road. The Lenoir City Planning Commission did grant a variance to the county road standard. Fortunately, the city has no legal authority to grant variances to county regulations. However, it appears the development has already began construction in violation of county road standards. 

Here's another mess created by Lenoir City mayor Tony Aikens and city officials. It never seems to end with them. 

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2/10/25