PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
4 NOVEMBER 2024
Chairman Connie Howell opened the meeting asking Commissioner Caleb Savage to offer a prayer and lead the pledge. The Chair then asked newly appointed members to introduce themselves. New members of the Commission are: Andy Edwards, Brian Marks, Tommy Price, and Commissioner Caleb Savage, as well as other members continuing to serve. Those are Kristen Pfeiffer, Tommy Pope, Bill Myers, Connie Howell, and Commissioners Terry Jones and Annelle Guthrie. The minutes of 1 October 2024 were moved for approval by Commissioner Annelle Guthrie, seconded by Commissioner Terry Jones and were approved unanimously.
First Agenda Item – Election of Officers. The Chair asked for nomination of new Chair for the 2024-2025 period. Kristen Pfeiffer nominated Andy Edwards, and Commissioner Annelle Guthrie provided the second. With no other nominations forthcoming, Commissioner Caleb Savage (Commissioner Annelle Guthrie provided a second) moved that nominations cease. Motion approved and Andy Edwards was elected as Chairman and proceeded to Chair the meeting. A nomination of Commissioner Caleb Savage for Vice Chair was then provided by Connie Howell, seconded by Commissioner Annelle Guthrie. The Vice Chair was unanimously approved as Commissioner Caleb Savage. Ms. Kristen Pfeiffer was nominated as Secretary by Ms. Connie Howell, seconded by Commissioner Annelle Guthrie. With a motion by Commissioner Caleb Savage to cease nominations, Ms. Pfeiffer was elected as Secretary unanimously.
The Chair asked if there were any public comments, and there being none, he asked if there were any unfinished business. There being none, he asked for any new business. County Executive (CE) Graham Stowe thanked new members for serving and continuing members for their service. He discussed the recent history of the planning commission noting that about two years ago questions about the Planning Commission subdivision standards arose on a frequent basis. The Commission had looked at Putnam County standards and while that county is larger than Giles, parts of those standards had good applicability to Giles. With the County Attorney providing legal assistance, the Giles County subdivision standards were rewritten resulting in no questions since that time on the standards. The CE noted the county website could also be used to access the standards. He noted the tension the county has experienced in questions on zoning, with valid points in protecting the citizens’ property rights and discussed other issues such as protecting farm land from what many see as undesirable loss of farm land (Giles County and nationally). Some individuals have encouraged establishing lot size requirements while others see that resulting in cost prohibitive for young buyers or building starter houses. Other issues the county has experienced, per the CE, are some developers skirt the standards by building subdivisions that do not include county roads within that subdivision. Concerns have been raised over the buyer not being aware that their access is not directly onto a county road. Not having an approved county road reduces the developer’s cost and the buyer’s cost as proposed by the developer since a county road has strict requirements that must be met and those requirements are more costly up front but also require less maintenance in the future. That additional cost would then be passed on to the buyer. However any later desire to make that a county road is generally not successful due to utilities placement and due to each home owner in that division required to pay their share of turning that less expensive road (and more often more upkeep) into a county road. Re the discussion on farm land loss, a question was raised by Commissioner Guthrie on differences between land trusts, covenants, and or covenant restricted. New member Brian Marks who also has developer background discussed those noting the timelines where land trusts are executed and may be non-revokable or revokable. He discussed restricted which may through the courts be changed given sufficient reasoning among those involved. With Ms. Howell asking who enforces restricted deeds, Mr. Marks liken those to HOAs, and the CE said worst case that enforcement would result in a civil suit within the courts. Several examples were given at this time for workarounds. The Chair noted how helpful the above discussions had been.
The Chair in discussing the next meeting was informed the meetings are always on the first Tuesday of the month, although given the requirement to meet 10 times annually, the Chair noted no meetings are generally held in July and in December. It was also noted that the meetings are noted on the wall within the annex, and are on the county web site also. A motion by Commissioner Terry Jones, seconded by Commissioner Caleb Savage to adjourn was made and was approved unanimously.
ATTENDEES: Members of the Committee Chair Andy Edwards, Brian Marks, Tommy Price, Kristen Pfeiffer, (absent Tommy Pope, Bill Myers) Connie Howell, and Commissioners Terry Jones, Caleb Savage and Annelle Guthrie. Other Commissioners in attendance Gayle Jones, David Adams, Carman Brown Other in attendance County Executive Graham Stowe
