Proposed DeKalb County Zoning Map Unveiled! (Click PDF to View Larger Map)
by: Dwayne PageApr 15, 2025
Proposed DeKalb County Zoning Map Unveiled!
During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, members of the DeKalb County Regional Planning Commission got their first look at what a DeKalb County Zoning Map might look like. The proposed map was unveiled by Tommy Lee, Director of the Upper Cumberland Development District, who serves as UCDD staff planner and advisor to DeKalb County.
The proposed map will be forwarded to the full county commission for review and if the commission still wants to move forward changes could be made before or after it is sent back to the planning commission for further study. The planning commission’s final recommendation for passage of a county zoning resolution and map must then return to the county commission for a vote on implementation followed by a public hearing.
“For the last six months or so the planning commission has been working on a proposed zoning resolution to regulate land use within unincorporated DeKalb County. To go along with that resolution, you must have a zoning map which identifies every parcel in unincorporated DeKalb County and places a zoning designation on that parcel. Tonight (Monday, April 14) what we did was the planning commission reviewed the proposed zoning map and recommended that the county commission review it and give us some feedback on it,” said Lee.
Using neighboring Cannon County’s zoning ordinance as a model, Lee explained that the proposed DeKalb County resolution and zoning map also has basically four zoning districts: residential, commercial, industrial, and agriculture.
“There are four different designations on the zoning map. The color green represents agriculture and makes up about 95% of the county. The yellow designation is for residential. Purple is for industrial and red is for commercial lots,” said Lee.
In September, the county commission voted to authorize the county planning commission to begin the process of establishing criteria for zoning in DeKalb County outside the municipalities which already have zoning subject to a public hearing and final adoption by the county commission.
8th Grader Kaden Mullinax Competes in Half Marathon
by: Dwayne PageApr 14, 2025
DeKalb West School student, Kaden Mullinax, completed his first half marathon on Sunday, April 6th, racing in the Covenant Health Half in Knoxville. The eighth grader, who is part of DeKalb Middle School’s cross country team, covered the 13.1 mile course in a time of 2:06. He placed 4th in his age group and finished 697th overall out of a field of 2,034 participants, which is in the top one-third.
DeKalb’s cross-country coach, Kristen Van Vranken had this to say, “To accomplish something of this magnitude as an eighth grader is phenomenal. The mental focus and physical exhaustion in a race of this length is so challenging and Kaden conquered his goal and finished. He is a huge part of our cross-country program and a wonderful student-athlete. We couldn’t be more proud of him”.
Middle School Students Place in Math Contest
by: Bill CongerApr 14, 2025
Two DeKalb West School students and one DeKalb Middle School student finished in the Top 10 at the 2025 Middle School Math Contest at Tennessee Tech. DMS 8th grader Carter Moore was number 2 out of 145 students in his grade division while DWS 8th grader Gabriel Blair placed 5th. DWS 6th grader Wyatt Bain placed 8th out of 145 students in his grade division.
Four hundred third-five students from 40 schools participated in the contest Thursday (April 10) at TTU.
DWS Math Contest students pictured front row left to right are Wyatt Bain, Paisley Avera, Turner Stanley, and Bella Gonzalez
Pictured back row left to right are Conner Robinson, Kaden Mullinax, Dakota Ferrell, Gabe Blair, Levi Reynolds, Bentley Martin, Joseph Grabovack, and Lucas Nokes.