My public comment to the JC Commission at their meeting on Thursday, February 19, 2026
Mayor, Vice-Mayor, Commissioners, Ms. Ball, Ms. Laos – Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight.
It has now been 258 days since this Commission voted for a moratorium on I2 developments and committed to conducting an impact study on the related heavy industries. For eight and a half months, residents have waited patiently for the city to move from promise to action. Tonight, with Item 6.1, you can take that next step by approving the contract with JPM Acoustics.
I strongly encourage you to vote yes.
The Impact Study Committee—composed of City staff and myself as a community representative—worked collaboratively and in good faith to recommend the most qualified team. The proposed scope focuses primarily on noise, but it also addresses issues residents consistently raised such as vibrations and potential health impacts. It also includes consulting support to craft ordinances and code changes that will protect us from incompatible industries, particularly AI data centers and crypto mining facilities.
This matters because of scale and proximity. Based on a manual review of the zoning map, there are 16 I-2 zones in Johnson City and our entire population lives within two miles of an I-2 zone. So, this is a citywide quality-of-life issue. This effort is also aligned with Horizon 2045 (a plan I deeply support), and this study is a practical step toward implementing that vision responsibly.
I do have three questions for the Commission:
- If the study timeline extends beyond expectations, or if delays occur as part of the process to review ordinance and code updates, will you commit to extending the moratorium to ensure residents remain protected?
- Will you commit to attending at least one of the public engagement events associated with this study, starting with the March 17 community meeting at the Langston Centre at 6 pm?
- As the study progresses, will you provide the means for regular public updates, for example in the form of an actionable item on the Commission meeting agenda, so residents can track milestones, understand emerging findings, and have an opportunity for direct feedback through public comments, while remaining meaningfully informed throughout the process?
In closing, I want to share the community’s appreciation of all the city staff has contributed to this the work. They have been nothing but caring and professional. They have been excellent listeners and always acted diligently on community feedback to address concerns. Thank you, Whitney, Heath, Megan, Jim, and Joseph for your hard work on behalf of our citizens.
Approving this contract signals that the City is ready to move from discussion to data, and from concern to clarity. I look forward to a thorough, transparent process that reflects the seriousness of this issue.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
