This approval came after the company announced a $36 million expansion of the current Bradley County facility last week.
The agreement sets the payments at 50 percent of the property taxes that would have been due. The agreement is for seven years starting on Jan. 1, 2013.
The resolution states that the expansion is expected to bring $308,296 in property taxes to the county with an additional $256,408 estimated for the city of Cleveland.
The project is expected to bring 60 to 80 additional jobs to the area.
The resolution to approve the PILOT agreement passed unanimously.
Land was a major topic at Monday’s meeting as the Commission made decisions on three rezoning requests. Two requests that would have changed lots from residential to commercial were resoundingly denied.
Commissioners voted 10-3 against a request on Bell Road at the corner of Dalton Pike, and 11-2 against a request on King Street. In both cases, those opposed and those in favor of the rezoning voiced their concerns to the Commission.
Thomas Fannin spoke in opposition of the Bell Road rezoning.
“I’ve never been involved in anything like this before, nothing has ever mattered to me as much as this to get involved,” Fannin said.
He listed traffic and congestion as concerns.
The fact that a specific retailer has not been named has also brought concern.
“We just wonder if it’s going to wind up a revolving door — businesses going in and out ... like we see already in the area,” Fannin said.
He suggested one of the existing vacant retail sites would be a better location.
John Pesterfield, who has an option for purchase of the property, said “the property is highway frontage,” and would be a good location for a retail business.
“The long-range planning commission map has this property earmarked for commercial development,” Pesterfield said.
He also argued the land should actually have a Dalton Pike address instead of a Bell Road address.
“I respectfully ask that your decision be based solely on the merit of the property,” Pesterfield said.
Commissioner Terry Caywood said he had concerns about the flow of rainwater in the area. He said, based on the flow of the water, a business on the site could cause flooding at the church next door due to the increased amount of pavement in the area.
Many of the commissioners said it was a difficult decision to make. Some wanted to delay the vote to give the parties a chance to reach a compromise.
Seventh District Commissioner Mark Hall said delaying the vote would only make the decision more difficult.
“We could debate this for months, maybe on into years, but we need to step up to the plate and make some hard decisions,” Hall said. “... Not everyone is going to leave here happy ... the longer it lingers, the worse it gets.”
The King Street property owner, Melba Davis, presented her reasons for wanting the land to be rezoned. Davis said she wants the rezoning, so she can sell it and move to Virginia to be with her children.
“The precedent here for commercial property in this area was set more than 15 years ago. Seventy-five percent of the property is adjoined by commercial,” said Chuck Davis, Melba Davis’ son.
Concerns about how a resident behind the property could access her property if the Davis land went commercial were voiced by Caywood and resident Terry Buckner. The properties currently share a driveway. A separate entrance could be created for the Davis property if it is rezoned, Chuck Davis said.
Both property owners have the option to go back through the rezoning request process at a later date.
Also during the meeting, the Commission voted to renew the county’s insurance contract for another year with the same company. Third District Commissioner Jeff Morelock said he would like to see the policy rebid to give other insurance agents, including local ones, an opportunity.
A third request to change land from commercial to residential on White Oak Valley Road was approved.
