The Rogersville Review

Rogersville BMA votes to settle litigation - HSI project awarded another $168,000

By Bill Grubb

ROGERSVILLE — In what has to be one of the quickest resolutions to any type of litigation filed in Hawkins County, the Rogersville Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted Tuesday to settle a Chancery Court case filed last Friday against the town and the Board of Zoning Appeals.

The legal action, filed by attorney Mike Faulk on behalf of 40 property owners in the West Hills area, asked the court to reverse a decision by the Board of Zoning Appeals allowing Dr. John Chambers to develop a group housing project, to be named Westover Park on Crockett's Creek.

The appeals board granted permission for the project to proceed even though the representative of the state Planning Office assigned to Rogersville, Charles Alley, repeatedly advised board members the use was not permitted in a low-density residential zone under the provisions of town's zoning ordinance.

Following a closed door session with City Attorney Bill Phillips the BMA authorized the attorney to file a response agreeing with all the provisions of the complaint and entering into a consent decree that would overturn the zoning board's decision and prevent the project from moving forward.

The BMA also learned the state has awarded another $168,000 for the Hale Springs Inn renovation project. The latest grant, which was less than the amount requested, will not cover the cost of renovating second floor guestrooms, according to Rogersville Building Inspector Steve Nelson.

Nelson said plans for the construction of a new wing containing a kitchen have been approved and the combination of existing funds and insurance received when the rear wing collapsed should allow for the completion of the work on the first floor.

Because the meeting was held after press time for the Midweek edition of the Rogersville Review, complete coverage will appear in the Weekend edition.

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