Sullivan County works on South Holston River Watershed Community land use plan

BLUFF CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) – Sullivan County’s Planning and Codes Department hosted a public engagement meeting to draft the South Holston River Watershed Community’s outdoor recreation and sustainable development land use plan.

Ambre Torbett, Sullivan County director of planning and community development and stormwater administrator, said they were seeing a lot of requests for development. Therefore, the county commission thought it would be good to study that area. This land use plan will segue into the full county-wide land use plan update.

The planning department held the engagement meeting to get the surrounding community’s ideas and thoughts.

“We talk about here how important that ecosystem is and how it’s kind of a rare place in the country for trout fishing and all of that,” Stephanie Odum, who lives in the South Holston River watershed community, said. “And the last thing we wanted to do is to turn it into like a Lorax situation where we destroy the very thing that drew people to the area to start with.”

Odum said her family has lived around the South Holston River for decades.

“It’s not that we’re against developing. It’s more that it needs to be sustainable, it needs to be responsible, it needs to be eco-friendly,” Odum said. “And quite frankly, as a homeowner, I don’t want to drive down the road, and the beautiful views of that river be destroyed with condominiums or high rises, or it [turns] into like another Gatlinburg. That’s the last thing we want.”

Torbett said those high-impact developments would not be suitable for that area.

“Without public sewer being extended out in this scope of the county, this region, we just won’t see that higher impact of condos or higher density developments. It just can’t happen,” Torbett said.

“The water quality, the erosion of the river, the creek banks, and all the creeks that flow into the river need to be protected, preserved, and better managed. Or there won’t be good water quality, and there won’t be good fishing.”

Torbett said high-impact developments would be better near state routes, like Winged Deer Park in Johnson City.

“Low-impact development on the river will need to be protected and assured because of the environmental sensitivity of the river,” Torbett said. “So we’re looking at more natural trails. If there are opportunities for that and basically to preserve what we have.”

The Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail is already a resource in the South Holston River Watershed Community.

During the meeting, attendees could complete surveys about what they envisioned for that corridor.

“I wouldn’t mind the small lodges,” Odum said. “I wouldn’t mind cabins if they were done well. We don’t necessarily want a lot of parking. That is going to impact how much runoff goes into the river. Single-family homes are what it’s mostly there now, and I think that’s fine.”

“I think campgrounds would be fine again if they were handled responsibly for the environment. It’s truly about making sure that we’re not impacting the fishing and the wildlife in that area and that we’re not impacting the water quality.”

Torbett said many water activities, such as fishing, kayaking, and canoeing, already occur in the South Holston River corridor. She said the water quality needs to be preserved so locals and tourists can continue enjoying those interests for years to come.

The community can contact the planning department for questions or if they have any ideas. Torbett said the survey will soon be posted to Sullivan County’s planning social media pages.

She also said she appreciates the community attending this meeting and providing feedback.

The draft of the South Holston River Watershed Community land use plan will be submitted to the Sullivan County Planning Commission at its July meeting.

Torbett said the goal is to complete it in the next three to four months.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.