The Tullahoma Planning Commission wants to solicit the public’s feedback on the proposed 2045 Comprehensive Plan as the panel delayed passage of the plan at its November meeting.

The plan describes the community’s long-term vision and goals, looking 20 years into the future. The original plan, known as the 2040 plan, was scrapped by a former iteration the board of mayor and aldermen leading to the development of what is known as the 2045 Comprehensive Plan. The new plan was drawn up by a committee which spent thousands of hours working to hammer out the plan that now sits before the Planning Commission. Once the planning commission has its say, the plan will be passed on to the city board of mayor and aldermen for consideration, approval, and implementation or remanding back to the planning commission to make improvements.

City Director of Planning and Development Samuel Luthi noted that the plan can be found on the city’s website. He also told the Planning Commission he believes the Tullahoma Board of Mayor and Aldermen are ready for them to pass it on to them for consideration. However, members of the Planning Commission felt they should leave the door open for public comment at least until the next planning meeting.

Member Alex Rice said he had no problem holding off a month to allow the public to weigh in, opening public comment up at the next Planning Commission meeting. However, he noted that the plan does need to go to BoMA sooner than later. “I don’t think we need to drag it out much longer,” he said.

Member Marvin Sellers was surprised more people were not at the recent meeting since the 2045 plan was on the docket. He pointed out there were a lot more people voicing their opinions when the 2040 plan was discussed a few years ago.

Commission Chairman Paul Schwer said it would be a good idea to solicit public comments during the December 15 meeting and then incorporate everything “in one swoop” before it is sent up to BoMA.

Only one person spoke during the public comment section of the meeting. Chuck Deen, a member of the Community Plan Development Committee (CPDC) who helped put the 2045 plan together, spoke to members of the Planning Commission. He pointed out there were changes to the 2045 plan made during a Planning Commission study session earlier this month.

“I just want to make the public aware that some of the items which were in the 2045 Tullahoma Comprehensive Plan which was submitted by the CPDC, have been modified or deleted by the Planning Commission,” he revealed, noting he did not have time to detail all the modifications made by the Commission.

He noted that a few included deletion of development feature requirements for off-street parking for residential areas and for where planned developments districts, or PUDs, can be located. He also pointed out the Planning Commission deleted an entire subsection about TAEDC.

“Interestingly, that was one of the many elements the CPDC derived direction from Think Tullahoma 2040 Plan,” he said

Despite the changes by the Planning Commission, Deen said he appreciated the plan being moved forward by the Commission.

The full 2045 comprehensive plan can be viewed by visiting the Tullahoma Planning and Codes website or down below.