City Council urged to rescind Pine Ridge permits

September 30, 2001

By Bob Fowler, Anderson County editor

Oak Ridge City Council should take immediate action to rescind permits it granted to developer Nat Revis in connection with his Pine Ridge project, the chair of the city's Environmental Quality Advisory Board has told council members.

Ellen Smith described the Pine Ridge development as "an environmental and public relations disaster" and said the clear-cutting and grading of that ridge has made Oak Ridge "the laughingstock of our neighbors."

Council, however, took no action on Smith's request. Members also had no comment in response to remarks made by Bill Schramm, an environmental consultant who has launched a petition drive to have the city either buy back the Pine Ridge property or condemn it so it can be converted into a city park.

Schramm said the way the city transferred a 71-acre tract of Pine Ridge to its Industrial Development Board for subsequent sale to Revis "precluded public input" as well as other bids on the property.

He asked council to "recognize the community's deep concern regarding further work" on the ridge, as well as "exercise diligent review and oversight of Pine Ridge."

Developer Wayne Clark urged council to "get on with" the Pine Ridge development. Clark said Revis' plan to put warehouses on a flattened Pine Ridge "will contribute significantly to the economic base."

In other matters at the Sept. 24 meeting, council approved on first reading a proposal for a planned unit development called Eastwind on the south side of Emory Valley Road.

A total of 26 lots for single-family homes is proposed. The owner, the Emory Valley Corp., has agreed to give 10.66 acres along Emory Valley Creek to the city for a planned greenway in exchange for waiving sewer tap fees.

Nearby homeowners expressed their concern about the project and its possible effect of increasing the likelihood of flooding.

"Any home there will have water problems," said Barbara Carter, a resident of Cypress Lane. She attributed flooding problems she experienced during a 100-year flooding incident in 1996 to building activity that had occurred upstream of her residence.

Another resident, Norman Dobbs, asked the city to take steps to enhance the stream flow capacity and include features that would mitigate storm water runoff.

A memo from City Planner Kahla Gentry said an engineering study indicated peak stream flow volume would be increased by 0.4 percent with full development.

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