The Bradley County Planning Commission voted on June 26 to deny a rezoning request for a parcel on Water Level Highway that the applicant proposed to develop with a mix of RV spaces and multifamily units.

Property owner Scott Wright described a preliminary concept for the roughly 350‑foot‑by‑2,000‑foot parcel: an initial RV area “to generate some immediate income” and a later buildout of quadplex rental units. “The idea is to have a little bit of RV parking at the back to generate some immediate income at the back 1 third of the property,” Wright said.

Residents and elected officials pressed multiple concerns. Howard Thompson, who said he represents the district, warned about on‑site flooding and wetlands: “There’s wetland there. There’s probably some land somewhere in there that could be used, but it goes all the way back to the ponds, the Okoye utility district,” he said, noting intermittent high water and a three‑ to four‑foot tile that has in heavy rains backed water into yards. Others cited sight‑distance problems on Highway 64 and the need for TDOT and county road approvals for access.

Bentley, county planning staff, told the commission that the property is within the county’s MS4 stormwater area and that TDEC review and other permits would be required for development and any stream or wetland impacts. A consulting engineer in the audience summarized the permitting steps: land‑disturbance permitting, possible stream/wetland determinations, and TDEC approvals.

The applicant’s preliminary plan included multiple figures mentioned in the hearing — staff noted an initial phase of roughly 64 RV spots and a later buildout of about 42 quadplexes — but no environmental or civil engineering studies had been submitted at the time of the hearing. Staff and residents repeatedly said that sewer capacity at the local Okoye Utility District is limited until the district upgrades its treatment filters.

After public comment and discussion, the commission took a motion to deny the rezoning request. The denial leaves the property in FAR and means any future development would require either a revised proposal addressing the technical concerns or a new rezoning application. The decision is final from the commission’s recommendation standpoint; applicants may pursue changes or bring additional studies to a future hearing.