About the Community Development Program

Winchester’s Community Development Program is led by the Community Development Coordinator, Pat Sanders. Sanders is also the Building Official for the city and works under the direct supervision of the City Administrator, Beth Rhoton. The Coordinator position is responsible for guiding future development and revitalization within Winchester and its planning region through close collaboration with citizens, public and private organizations, and the officials and staff of the City and other governmental entities. The Coordinator also serves as staff for the Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, and Design Review Commission.

Pat Sanders has served in a capacity of staff advisor for the City of Winchester since September, 2007.  From 2007 to June, 2011 the City received contracted aid from the State of Tennessee’s former Local Planning Assistance Office.  When that office was abolished, Daniel Galindo, who had served in as Winchester’s contracted community planning representative was hired as the initial Community Development Coordinator in August of 2011.  In April 2013, Tom Ore, a Professional Engineer, Registered Land Surveyor, and a retiree from Arnold Air Force Base, assumed the Community Development Coordinator role as a contracted employee.  Ore served in that capacity for one year before citing the need to devote full time to his Engineering and Survey business.  In May 2014, Sanders was designated the Community Development Coordinator responsibility and has served in that capacity since.  Prior to his employment with the City of Winchester, Sanders was employed by the City of Decherd as a Building Official, Planning Staff Advisor, and City Administrator.  Prior to that, Sanders had been employed for nearly two decades at Arnold Air Force Base. During that stint he worked for Pan Am World Services, Schnider Services International, SSI Inc., and Aerospace Contractual Services (ACS) as support contractors to the US Air Force.