PIGEON FORGE — City Commissioners heard Monday from three different property owners who were upset about how the next leg of the Westside Connector could affect their property.
Commission is set to meet at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in the City Hall.
City Mayor David Wear said last week that the workshop will provide an opportunity for conversation among city officials, business owners and residents as well as representatives of the car shows.
The shows have been a major topic of conversation since the Spring Rod Run was held last month and there were many complaints about how rowdy and vulgar the crowds had become.
That included one incident where a person fired gunshots in the air during an altercation at a gas station, as well as many complaints about public indecency, harassment, drivers doing burnouts on the Parkway,and other issues.
He acknowledged there are negative parts of the events for all businesses,.
The Rod Run crowd takes up parking spaces for businesses along the Parkway, as they park classic cars facing the road for days in an area thatâs considered part of the stateâs right of way and therefore public parking, he noted.
As chairman of the planning commission, which approves plans for events like the car shows, he said they need to do a better job of overseeing plans for the events.
It wasnât clear Monday how the city could plan for the crowds that attend the Rod Run. The city sponsors the show at the Leconte Event Center at Pigeon Forge, but many if not most of the enthusiasts that come to town for the Rod Run weekend never go there.