Normandy rebels against town zoning

County Mayor Eugene Ray and planning commission members Linda Yockey and Kennon Threet listen to a discussion of how Normandy's land use plans impact the county's participation in the Governor's Three-Star Award program. (T-G Photo by John I. Carney) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

County Mayor Eugene Ray and Bedford County Planning Commission members say that Normandy's refusal to adopt land use regulations will cost the entire county, but Normandy Mayor Larry Nee says the town doesn't want or need such restrictions.

The Planning Commission held a special called meeting Monday night. County Mayor Eugene Ray reported that one of the requirements for Bedford County to reach Benchmark III in the Governor's Three-Star Award program is for the entire county to be under some sort of land use regulations. Shelbyville, Wartrace and Bell Buckle have their own zoning ordinances, and Bedford County governs the unincorporated areas. Only Normandy does not have any sort of zoning.

Since the town has declined to set up its own zoning program, the county offered to add Nee to the county planning commission if Normandy would place itself under Bedford County's zoning rules.

But Nee told the Times-Gazette Tuesday that he was elected in part by promising to keep Normandy residents free to make their own land use choices. He said the town has only a few undeveloped lots that aren't in a flood plain.

"Normandy has no need for a planning commission," said Nee.

He said his constituents are also dead-set against giving up such controls to the county planning commission.

Normandy's lack of land use regulations means the entire county will stay at Benchmark I in the Three-Star program. Ray says that could conceivably cost the county and its incorporated communities money.

The Three-Star program, administered by Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, is designed to reward communities for their preparedness for growth and development. One practical aspect of the program is that the various Three-Star benchmarks are used to set the terms for local matching funds when the state awards a Community Development Block Grant. Benchmark III communities only have to pay a 2 percent match on such a grant, while Benchmark I communities must pay 6 percent.

Block grants are often used for utility or infrastructure projects, such as extending water lines. Those projects would be less expensive, at least in terms of local government tax dollars, if the county were at Benchmark III.

"What I'm trying to do is help the people of Bedford County," said Ray. "All the people of Bedford County."

Ray had been pushing for Normandy to accept some sort of land use regulation by the middle of this month, the deadline for the county to qualify for Benchmark III under the Three-Star program.

Planners said Monday that some sort of land use regulation is a good idea anyway; without it, the town has no way of regulating undesirable businesses, such as adult entertainment.

"I think that's a ridiculous example to use," said Nee, scoffing at the idea of adult entertainment dropping into Normandy.

Nee said the county and the administrators of the Three-Star program have been talking to him for months about the issue. At one time, there seemed to be a possibility that the Three-Star rules could be changed to exempt very small communities from the land use plan requirement. Nee said that if Normandy could have qualified for such an exemption, he would have been willing to work with the county on the Three-Star application. Nee said he continued to stress that Normandy was not interested in giving up control of its land use but that county officials misunderstood him.

"They didn't hear a word I said," Nee said. This led some officials to believe that Nee was willing to sign an agreement, and so work on getting the exemption did not proceed.

Ray said there's a possibility that the small-town exemption will be added to the Three-Star rules in time for next year's application process.

Nee said one county official even suggested to him that Normandy un-incorporate. But Nee said that Normandy benefits from being incorporated and that it's likely Duck River Electric would take up its street lights and the U.S. Postal Service would close the local post office if the town were to return its charter.

Even though Nee had made the town's position clear, the planners voted to approve a resolution granting the county planning commission authority over Normandy, making their action contingent on the town's acceptance -- which, according to Nee, won't be given.

Planners also approved a resolution adopting a thoroughfare plan for the town.