County growth plans presented to public

Ron Adcock (center) and an unidentified citizen took a look at proposed growth plans Monday night at the first of three public meetings about the county's master plan. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely) [Click to enlarge]

That was the question posed to interested citizens during the first of three public meetings dealing with Bedford County's revised master growth plan.

With large graphics of the different proposed plans displayed, Charles Goforth of the design firm Barge, Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon (BWSC) explained to the crowd of about 50 where the county should plan for its growth over the next 20 years.

The master plan is intended to be an update to the original plan drafted by the county and its municipalities to comply with Public Chapter 1101, which requires cities and counties to formulate a 20-year plan indicating how they are prepared to grow and develop as time progresses, and to identify means of providing public utilities to those growth areas.

Charles Goforth of the firm Barge, Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon (BWSC) explained Bedford County's proposed growth plan to about 50 citizens and civic leaders. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely) [Click to enlarge]

Goforth highlighted three areas in the west and northwestern parts of the county that will likely see the most growth: The areas of Unionville / Rover, Deason and Wheel. Those areas have been identified as capable of handling 20 years of growth.

He added that it was conceivable that a community like Unionville could be incorporated some years down the road. These planned growth areas are separate from the urban growth boundaries (UGBs) which surround the municipalities of Bedford County.

Goforth added that substantial growth was already occuring in those three areas, where there are "pockets of areas of concentrated growth."

The towns of Shelbyville, Wartrace, Bell Buckle and Normandy have already mapped their UGBs out. Shelbyville's proposed UGB extends north of the area of the municipal airport and the new Bedford County Medical Center to the area surrounding Deason.

Goforth said the county is already seeing "spill over" from Williamson and Rutherford Counties as those areas continue their massive development. Access to sewer and roads is a major factor in planning the growth areas.

Another item that will have a significant impact on growth is the proposed bypass around Shelbyville, which was included in the designs displayed Monday.

The county has already designated a large area that is to be identified as "rural," which is land to be preserved and not developed, Goforth said.

Goforth said there is plenty of room for growth in the county, with 86 percent of land termed as vacant and noted that population projections for the county indicate that about 12,000 more people will be living here by the year 2025, which Goforth termed as "low."

He noted that part of the county's vacant land is in a flood plan and not suitable for development. Other areas may not be the best place for growth due to soil conditions, which could prevent septic systems from being installed as well as the topography.

Maps displayed by Goforth showed that the most favorable soil conditions for development were in the northwestern part of Bedford County.

One citizen asked why the county doesn't establish infrastructure first and then growth, saying that the county should find ways to limit growth. Goforth replied that "it doesn't happen that way."

"Development is going to happen," he said.

Two more meetings are scheduled this week: Tonight at the Cascade School Library and Thursday at Community School, with both meetings starting at 6 p.m.