A proposed 120-unit apartment complex in Johnson City, which has attracted vocal opposition from nearby residents, could take another step this week toward reality.
Johnson City commissioners will consider on first reading this Thursday whether to rezone an almost 11-acre property at 2803 Browns Mill Road. The parcel would change from R-3 (medium residential) to R-4 (medium density residential), which would increase the maximum unit density of the land. The rezoning would require three votes from the commission before it becomes official.
Neighbors have said traffic and safety are already issues on Browns Mill Road, where residents say motorists frequently travel faster than the speed limit of 25 mph.
Between 2018 and 2020, 64 simple assaults, 39 aggravated assaults and 34 acts of shoplifting have occurred in Johnson Cityâs downtown area.
As a deterrent against future crimes and to preserve public spaces, the city is now considering whether to install video surveillance downtown.
Members of the cityâs staff presented a plan to commissioners on Thursday. Under that proposal, cameras would be positioned to cover East Main Street, Spring Street, Tipton Street, the downtown breezeway at 216 E. Main St. and the Downtown Square and Cherry Street parking lots.
Commissioners did not take action on the proposal.
Under the option recently presented to commissioners, staff expects the total cost of installation would be about $73,000.
The former Ashe Street Courthouse could soon receive some tender loving care courtesy of funding from the state of Tennessee.
Gov. Bill Lee has again included $5 million in his budget to help fund improvements to the building, an allotment that was originally included in his budget last year before the COVID-19 outbreak put the money on hold.
Johnson City Mayor Joe Wise and City Manager Pete Peterson traveled to Nashville in March to seek funding for the building, which serves as one of the major anchors for the West Walnut Street corridor.
Wise stressed that placement in the governor s budget is just the first step. The budget will now go to the General Assembly for further review.
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The board voted unanimously to take that action during their meeting Thursday.
Commissioners received a report from Knoxville attorney Benjamin Lauderback late last year that found Peterson unnecessarily berated but didnât threaten the job of a fire prevention officer, Roger Davis.
Peterson chastised Davis after he looped the State Fire Marshalâs Office in on a conversation about using the former Ashe Street Courthouse to house homeless people with COVID-19.
Lauderback did, however, hear from multiple people that Petersonâs management style âcan and does cross the border of profane and demeaning.â
Commissioners have said they intend to factor Lauderbackâs report into their annual evaluation of Peterson, which they put on hold in the fall while they waited for the attorneyâs findings.