Newport-Cocke County's planning commission approved a motion on Tuesday that asks the County Legislative Body (CLB) to "opt out" of implementing new building construction and fire safety codes for construction of all buildings in the county.

In order to opt out of having the codes, the CLB must pass a resolution to that effect with a two-thirds majority. If two-thirds don't agree, Cocke County will automatically have the building and fire codes.

Also, according to Cocke County Attorney Fletcher Ervin, whenever a new member joins the CLB, such as after an election, the CLB must again go through the process of attaining a two-thirds majority to opt out of the program.

The Cocke County Regional Planning Commission recommended the CLB opt out after Commissioner Mike Johnson, a general contractor, said builders already have more than enough regulations to contend with, as well as taxes, such as impact fees.

"I just think it (the regulation of builders) has gotten out of hand," Johnson told other members of the Planning Commission on Tuesday. Most, if not all, commissioners appeared to agree with his assessment.

County Attorney Ervin said, "The logic (behind the state's moves) is to make homes energy-efficient. If that's true, then over the lifetime of a house, you'll save money. The question is, Are they telling the truth?"

Johnson said the extra fees and inspections may work in urban cities such as Nashville, where new homes command higher prices and can therefore absorb additional construction-related costs, but that it was "too expensive" a requirement for local builders in Cocke County.

Johnson said that in Jefferson County, which has a building code, impact fees are "$1 per square foot," or about $2,200 on a 1,500-square foot house. There is also an initial building permit fee, he said.

Johnson said regulations and fees have gotten so burdensome that construction in Jefferson County has virtually halted.

Johnson said he had to pay almost 30 percent of four workers' salaries per year in 2006 and 2007 for workman's compensation, to build four houses.

He also said of state officials, "There's talk of forcing painters to go to school" before they can paint a house.

In another matter, Chairman Phil Morgan said he was very concerned about the massive, traffic-stopping rockslide on Interstate-40 that occurred Sunday, and its negative impact on local businesses.

"In my opinion, it's better to have two lanes open (one in each direction) for six months, then to have no lanes for three months," Morgan said.

"Next year, we'll be short on sales taxes" coming into the county, Morgan predicted.

He asked all those present who are "politically connected" to pressure their representatives to move quickly to restore east/west traffic in the rock slide area on I-40.

The Planning Commission also discussed ways to get engineers to supply the required information for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) about Hydrology and Hydraulics (H & H) studies that engineers conducted for three developments.

In other action, the Planning Commission:

•Approved the Bluffs at Douglas Lake subdivision, pending a final title opinion letter; and approved a new letter of credit of $16,195.30 for development;

•Approved the Bright Star subdivision, Phase I, as long as the road within the subdivision is, in fact, a county road, and not a way;

•Approved a request by Lana Gregg for a defined boundary line on a Sane Road farm "for recording purposes";

•Approved a new letter of credit for the Critter Mountain Estates subdivision.