Tourism could get a shot in the arm via a proposal recently presented by Brooke O’Dell, with the Claiborne Economic Partnership (CEP). The Partnership is in the process of applying for grant funds to cover the installation of a tourist information kiosk on the historic Gulf Station property, located on Main Street.
The Tazewell board of Mayor and Aldermen (BMA) approved a motion last week to furnish the space and to allow a tourism sign to be erected on the backside of the city maintenance department property, located nearby the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 25E and Hwy. 33 south.
O’Dell also requested during the meeting that the city agree to pay the electric bill, in the likelihood that the grant is secured.
The kiosk will provide tourists with brochures of area interests and will offer scrolling video and a message board, that will be used to advertise upcoming local events, said O’Dell.
In other action, the BMA adopted Ordinance 305, on first reading. If adopted on second and final reading, the ordinance will amend M-1 industrial district uses for pain management and rehabilitation clinics.
Apparently, the city planners felt the original ordinance too specific in its verbiage. Mayor Wayne Jessie said ordinance 305 will make the language “more generalized.”
The lion’s share of the proposed ordinance replaces Section 11-406(2) A, Methadone Treatment Clinic or Facility, in its entirety with an amended set of rules.
According to the ordinance, approval of a pain management or drug rehabilitation clinic will be contingent upon receipt of the appropriate license and certificate of need by the state. The request should include, among other documents, maps showing existing land use and zoning within one-quarter of a mile of the proposed site, according to the ordinance.
The clinic will need to be located on and have access to a street designated on the Tazewell Major Road Plan as an arterial or major collector and will require a buffer zone to its nearest property lines.
Those applying for approval of such a facility will not be permitted to build within 1,000 feet of a school, day care, park, church, synagogue, mosque, mortuary or hospital. Public recreational activities, amusements catering to family entertainment and any establishment that sells alcoholic beverages for on or off-premises consumption will also be protected by the 1,000 feet buffer zone.
Pain clinics and rehabilitation facilities will also be barred from locating within 1,000 feet of any residential or business zoning district and will not be permitted within the same footage of any residential dwelling. The site cannot be less than one-half mile from any other pain management or drug rehabilitation clinic, according to the ordinance.
Proposed ordinance 305 also includes new language to describe the more generalized definitions of medical clinics and pain management or drug rehabilitation facilities.
In another matter, those participating in the Annual Hwy. 25E Yard Sale, slated for June 2-4, will have no problem setting up their wares inside the city. The BMA temporarily waived the enforcement of any ordinances pertaining to yard sales and peddlers.
Reach Jan Runions at 423-254-5588 or on Twitter @scribeCP.
