The former FCE property at 4381 Cosby Highway has a long history of being intended for the benefit of the Cocke County community.

Records from East Tennessee Foundation (ETF) document that the original donor requested that the property be used to benefit the community. Over the years, local residents and an advisory board worked with ETF on possible community uses for the property, including a community facility, gathering space, trails, recreation and other public uses.

The property, held by East Tennessee Supporting Foundation, is now the subject of a request to rezone the property from R-1 residential to C-2 commercial. The Supporting Foundation has stated that it has received an offer to purchase the property contingent upon that rezoning. The public has not been told who the prospective buyer is or what use is proposed for the property.

The rezoning request is scheduled to come before the Cocke County Planning Commission on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 5:15 p.m.

Before land with this history is rezoned and potentially sold for private commercial development, the people of Cocke County deserve to understand what is being proposed and to have a meaningful voice in what happens next.

We are asking that action on the rezoning and sale be paused while:

1. The property's original donor intent and any associated restrictions or obligations are fully reviewed;

2. The proposed use and prospective buyer are disclosed; and

3. Alternatives that preserve the property's benefit to Cocke County are considered with meaningful public input.

Once this property is sold and developed, that decision may not be reversible.

This community deserves the time and transparency necessary to ensure that a property intended to benefit it continues to do so.