Bill would let county upgrade Three-Star staus

Last year, the county's interest in qualifying for a higher level of the Governor's Three-Star Award program -- which could save money in grant-matching funds -- clashed with the Town of Normandy's wish to avoid adopting a zoning plan.

But a new bill could create a loophole to satisfy both sides.

The county had been trying to reach Benchmark III in the Governor's Three-Star Award program, and one of the requirements was that the entire county have 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.

County officials tried to get the town to adopt some sort of rudimentary zoning, Mayor Larry Nee said last month that Normandy has only a few lots that aren't in the flood plain and that the town has no need for, or interest in, a planning commission or a zoning ordinance.

Normandy's refusal to participate means the county can't go any higher than Benchmark I as the regulations are now written. Now, State Rep. Curt Cobb and State Sen. Jim Tracy have introduced a bill that would exempt very small communities from the requirements of the program, allowing counties to qualify for Three-Star benchmarks even if such a town decides not to adopt local zoning.

Such an exemption was discussed as a possibility during last fall's dispute.

The Three-Star program, administered by the 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.

The bill to exempt small towns, which is HB 0698 in the House and SB 0615 in the Senate, was introduced in both bodies last month but hasn't gotten very far yet. In the Senate, it has been referred to the State and Local Government Committee.

Cobb said this morning that there are actually fewer bills before the legislature this year than in the past, partly because money is so tight and legislators are avoiding introducing bills that they know can't be funded.