Residents of Greenback came to the Loudon County Regional Planning Commission meeting Tuesday to voice their opposition of a preliminary plat approval for a proposed 51-lot subdivision to be located at Morganton and Cabe roads.

Russ Rackley, an engineer from Sterling Engineering of Maryville, addressed the commission about the project. He said the plan was to divide the property into one- and half-acre lots and that Cabe Road would have to be widened to 20 feet to accommodate the development. He acknowledged there are “a lot of old growth trees” on the road. Rackley said the goal was to have a “safe road while maintaining the character” of the area.

Commissioner Roy Brooks questioned Rackley about an old home on the property that he believed was on the historic register. He said he remembered a plaque on the property. Rackley said he was not aware of an historic designation for any building on the property in question. “If it is on the historic register we’d have to work around it,” Rackley said.

Greenback resident Pat McCarter addressed the commission armed with a petition signed by 84 Greenback residents. She said the group is sensitive to the property rights of others but she requested the commission use “due diligence” before allowing the developers to change “our way of life in Greenback.”