TOWNSEND, Tenn. — Some neighbors in a quiet town at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains are calling for a vote recall on plans to build a new "boutique" hotel.
Construction is expected to start in the summer of 2024 on the new Townsend hotel. Originally named Yonder Hospitality, the company changed its brand name to Ofland Hotels ahead of the construction. The hotel will be named Ofland Great Smoky Mountains, and its design will focus on outdoor hospitality rooted in the local landscape.
"We're about the noise of the mountains, the noise of the river — not about the noise from all of the extra people," said Tomie McEvoy, who moved to Townsend around five years ago. "Townsend has not been developed like Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg has done."
She said he moved to Townsend for the mountains, the rushing rivers and to find peace. She said she decided to move after her home in California was impacted by developments.
"It's personal for me because I was forced to sell my property to accommodate that," she said.
She's one of hundreds of neighbors asking Townsend leaders to reconsider their vote approving the construction of a new hotel. Many said the new hotel would not translate to benefits for the community.
"We are not anti-business. We are anti-business that does not directly benefit the residents," said McEvoy.
The group said the call for leaders to reconsider their votes comes from procedural irregularities and incomplete primary reports, such as a planning commission member voting while her term was expired and an incomplete stormwater plan. A petition urging a recall vote has gather more than 400 signatures so far.
"If affects my neighbors, and the same thing is happening. Their quality of life is being diminished," she said.
A planning commission member said there was no legal mechanism to recall the vote, and once it has been approved by leaders it's final. The member also said the developer of the hotel had all of its paperwork submitted in advance and on time.
The commission said it works to treat every site plant fairly, and the developer's proposal met their requirements, so members approved it.
Members from the planning commission declined an on-camera interview with WBIR and referred questions to Mayor Don Prater. He said he would address questions and concerns during Tuesday night's meeting of the Townsend City Council.