Thank you for your feedback and continued interest in your communities!
25 Comments
Showing 76-100 of 174 results
Ottie, 37932
March 28, 2023
Can we all say a calming prayer for Cynthia?lol All kidding aside Cynthia, I love your passion. It shows that you do care about your community and what happens around you. Knoxville or Knox County isn't perfect but every mistake, miscalculation, misrepresentation, etc. is an opportunity to learn and grow as a community. The growth we've experienced in the past few years is new territory for all of us, so let's keep the communication lines open and navigate these changes together.
Cynthia, 37938
March 28, 2023
But you go ahead and continue to disillusion yourself that we need Knox County to function like a Nashville or Memphis ‐ that's what we really want ‐ actually that's not it at all ‐ if I wanted to live there or even in DC or San Diego I would. We choose to live here and could we plan better ‐ yes ‐ but that comes with not handing out 1000 building permits to put in track houses 8 per acre. Especially when those houses are poorly built and extremely over priced and then we complain that people cannot get housing ‐ Gee I wonder why. I think you really need to go back to the drawing board and learn about the community and our past and not try to just turn us into a liberal city agenda as a whole.
Cynthia, 37938
March 28, 2023
Even worse, we can't get businesses in our community because we are essentially a forgotten end of the community. Let's go ahead and educate everyone ‐ this is the North end of the county ‐ last time I checked we should not be lumped in on the news or anything else with East Knox County. Our schools are already over crowded and yet more money just gets thrown after bad in the more affluent portions of the community. No I won't move West, but there are times I wish I had never moved here from Seymour ‐ water and sewer charges for one ‐ the fact that we don't have shopping or or restaurants and cannot seem to get investment for that on this end of the county.
Cynthia, 37938
March 28, 2023
See attached PDF
You have once again missed the mark. If you you all could actually understand the communities as a whole that would be fantastic. Putting in sidewalks to nowhere in Halls was ludicrous. Adding an extra traffic light through a community that already had traffic issues was a marvel of engineering stupidity that I thought could not be marveled, but we did it. Even worse, you can't get the red lights to function properly so the traffic on Maynardville Hwy just sits constantly.
Ed , 37912
March 12, 2023
With the county and city's expanding population will we be seeing more sidewalks around the area instead of folks taking their lives walking on sides of roads
Caleb, 37932
January 7, 2023
(Part 2)
It'd also be great if there was more parks and/or hiking trails in Hardin Valley. The forests in knox county are beautiful, but difficult to access/enjoy more due to lack of hiking trails. The hiking/biking trails in the forests in Hardin Valley would create more of an incentive to keep the the forests rather than bulldoze them over.
Anything the county can do to make water recreation on the rivers more accessible would be great. Like encouraging or making it easier for businesses to have rent kayaks, watering holes for swimming, paddleboards, have floating movie nights, river tubing, etc. would make knox county an even more wonderful place to live.
As a hard tech entrepreneur, it'd be super helpful if there was more lab space available to rent in the Hardin Valley area and even better would be a lab equipment co-op. Or maybe Pellissippi state could be the site of a lab equipment co-op so the students can get trained in more high tech equipment and processes as well. Me and some other entrepreneurs working with ORNL are trying to get one started, but it's a little tricky getting it worked out at this early stage.
Caleb, 37932
January 7, 2023
(Part 1)I noticed that some comments were mentioning they want to avoid urban/dense areas to maintain the rural feel of knox county. I love the rural/forest vibe of the county, but the only way I can see we can maintain that is by having a handful of urban/dense areas that are walkable and distinct which I think is a good thing. That way we can avoid suburban sprawl which is horrible for everyone involved.
Also the highway from Oak Ridge Memorial park to solway either needs to get expanded or alternate roads need to be built to get around it. With all the folks leaving ORNL at the end of the day, the traffic is a nightmare. It once took me 1.5 hours to get home when it only takes 20 minutes without traffic. If there was another way out I would have taken it to go around.
Terry, 37849
December 12, 2022
I see little attention directed to EZ rail similar to DC metro lines. More cooperation between TDOT, Knox Engineering, Knox Co Engineering, and all their contractors on road planning makes Knox Countian's lives miserable, and burns up our gas. The lack of redlight timers based on volume, coordinated lights that blink after hours, rush-hour coordinated lights, etc; makes this area a nightmare to drive in. And why the long wait trying to get on and off an interstate? Is it so cams can photograph everyone? As long as turning right on red is in place, pedestrians take their lives in their own hands here. And you want more walkways and bikeways? Get the politics and land developers, realtors, and opportunists off the commissions, and start working for the people instead of big business developers out to please their buddies. Until our people study best practices of other communities who have been awarded grants time and time again for their planning, I don't expect these comments will even be read, as I suspect they're soliciting comment just to fulfill a paperwork requirement.
Shari, 37918
December 4, 2022
I have visited and lived in other states and countries too. During visits to Jamestown NY, I thought it was a very effective and interesting concept where the homes were 2-3 stories tall with the same layout, and different family units lived on separate floors. Grandparents might be on 1st floor for ADA accessibility and children or other family members lived on above floors. The fixed costs and taxes could be shared as well as exterior responsibilities. Also, due to serving in military abroad our family lived in a self sustaining Italian village, their was a town square with common shops, grocery, church, bakery, etc. The Italian apartment was one building with the same concept, each floor was identical. There was a 3 car garage on ground floor. I think that families sharing home units should be an important part of moving forward in today’s economy where it can be affordable for all.
Sarah, 37922
October 31, 2022
I would love to see Metro government for all of Knox Country, the city of Knoxville, and the Town of Farragut. We would have one metro government with one set of elected officials. The schools are already controlled by Knox County Schools. The taxpayers would save money and everyone could have the same public services (such as police protection and fire protection). The public utilities (water, sewer, gas, and electricity) could also be combined and controlled by the metro government.
Stuart, 37931
October 28, 2022
I would like to see a stronger development of roads in the county. I would like Pellissippi Parkway to become a freeway with off ramps and limited access. It would be good if one could drive to and from Knoxville to Oak Ridge on a freeway with a fly over Solway. This road has become dangerous and crowded. The Hardin Valley Road needs to be widened to accommodate growth. Roads to Powell need to be expanded such as Oak Ridge Highway. I-40 and I-75 need more lanes and expanded off ramps to reduce congestion. Development along these roads will be good if the highways are expanded to accommodate the load.
Pete, 37901
October 27, 2022
(1/2)
The growth Knox County continues to experience is fueled in part by the fact that it is such a good place to live. Many factors contribute to that, but high among them is the character of the county - rivers, lakes, mountains and open space. Our challenge is to accommodate growth, but not at the expense of what makes it such a wonderful place to be.
One way to do that is to create boundaries where growth is off limits before proceeding to establish where it should be encouraged. The off-limits areas can be protected in a variety of ways ranging to zoning limitations to conservation easements to public ownership.
Some of this has already occurred. Ridgetop development is not allowed, historic zones have been established and new parks have been created. But there likely would be broad agreement in the community that everything else should not be available for unrestricted development.
Pete, 37901
October 27, 2022
(2/2)
Specifically, we should look at establishing the following protections:
1. The shorelines of the French Broad and Holston rivers, 50 to 100 feet back from the water. These rivers are almost unique in Tennessee as nearly all of the other significant rivers in the state have become lakes. Canoeing and Kayaking are becoming increasingly popular, especially following the creation of the Seven Islands State Birding Park at the county line, with its two river access ramps. The protection can happen through public ownership, as with the State Park, through conservation easements and with zoning restrictions as has been done with the ridgetops. A 100 foot strip on each side of the French Broad River that would protect the character and beauty of the river while involving total of only 360 acres.
2. Before water and/or sewer service is extended into undeveloped areas of the county, the property owners abutting the proposed lines should be given the opportunity to vote, perhaps at ten year intervals, on whether such service is wanted. If a clear majority of the property owners object, the services should not be extended.
3. New residential subdivisions should be prohibited if they are beyond a specified distance from an existing residential subdivision as a way to control urban sprawl.
These kinds of restrictions could become part of both the "town and country" and the "on the road again" concepts that are under consideration.
Gene, 37920
October 27, 2022
Since experience tells us that continuation of urban sprawl, compared to focusing new development on corridors or planned multi-use centers, is more expensive and is less likely to create communities of character.
Also important, as climate scientists insist, is that our planning encourage energy efficiency. Time is critical for us to reduce carbon emissions and known correlations such as shorter home to work trips and better use of public transportation provide obvious advantages in that regard.
Gene, 37920
October 26, 2022
There is a need for cost information for each scenario, as was done (as I recall) with the similar process for Cumberland Region Tomorrow.
Eric, 37918
October 25, 2022
Non of this development plan mentions what density of development makes sense under a "county" level of government. There is a reason Incorporated City entities were created to handle greater population densities. Annexation is a dirty word in TN. At some point we need streamline the development of the greater Knox County and that means leveraging our incorporated cities as foci of high density development. The current ring development results in the poaching of agricultural lands and non redevelopment.
Micah, 37922
October 24, 2022
Northshore needs to have sidewalks added and be more walkable. I would like to see more greenways, parks and green space. Smart and well though out development instead of development for development’s sake. Avoid sprawl. Higher building standards for developers to make things look cosmetically nice with landscaping, higher end builds, etc. Require new neighborhoods to put in sidewalks/greenways along main roads and in neighborhoods. Investment in Lakeshore Park has been great. Invest in other parks as well. Improve public access to the River and incorporate the waterfront in downtown.
Joshua, 37902
October 13, 2022
If we are choosing between the three then the "town and country" model is the best. There are multiple examples of this kind of development increasing satisfaction, quality of life, and property values, while reducing infrastructure cost in the long run.
Isaac, 37914
October 13, 2022
I really like the Town and Country scenario... I would like to see more commercial investment in East Knoxville, but it seems like a good template to start with. I definitely don't like continuing current trends... it's land-greedy and short-sighted.
Cheryl, 37849
October 12, 2022
First, please work on the assumption that Knox County has Four Directions! Leaders of zoning regulations must step up to lead and choose doing something because it is the right thing to do, not just because it will make them more money. Fix new plans and codes that do not allow run down buildings and properties, or excessive, ugly signage. Right now our major roads like Clinton Highway, Broadway, Chapman Highway, and more, look like they were never presented with any kinds of codes. Also, allowing a plethora of hillside subdivisions with look-alike houses stacked on top of each other is not helping the future appearance of our county. While the "Town and Country" plan appeals to me, I fear that this will not be equally spread out in the county. Therefore, I support "On the Road Again" and hope that all main arteries can become something that will make us proud to live in Knox County and to show it off to visitors--all 4 directions of it.
Claire, 37923
October 11, 2022
Narrow rural roads continue to be prevalent in many areas and lack sidewalks for pedestrians (and especially school children). Would like the planning commission to consider the perspective neighborhoods, not to just solely focus on growth.
Joseph, 37849
October 10, 2022
The right choices are: Town and Country, On the Road Again, and Outward Bound in that order. Town and Country has the most choices, the most diversity, the most conservation. On the other hand, Outward Bound has the least choices, the least diversity and the MOST problems!
Linda, 37934
October 10, 2022
While I am glad there is going to be a plan for growth, I am very concerned that the growth will change Knoxville and Knox County too much. Being raised in Atlanta, Ga. I saw Atlanta change so much in such a short time that I don't even want to visit. Many people moved here because Knoxville was a good size: not too much traffic, good schools, beautiful rural areas close by. Now, there is too much traffic, we keep having to build schools, we have to keep widening roads, we have changed the country roads to entirely too many neighborhoods. Cities like Nashville and Atlanta can keep widening and adding roads but they will never be able to control traffic. I am afraid Knox County will end up like this. The very reason people have moved and stayed here in the past is already gone. We have to control growth so we will not become so big and crowded that no one will want to live here.
Brian, 37919
October 10, 2022
I believe the town and country scenario is the most sustainable and the best way to have thoughtful community growth. BUT first invest in the infrastructure, specifically roads, to support the growth.
mixed land use for business and residential and a variety of housing price points to include affordable should be required to develop a town and country community. Developers should have to participate in some of the required elements like schools, parks, character...
Theresa, 37909
October 9, 2022
INFRASTRUCTURE HAS NOT KEPT PACE WITH EXCESSIVE DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS. NARROW RURAL ROADS CONTINUE TO BE PREVALENT IN MANY AREAS AND THE LACK OF SIDEWALKS AND TRANSPORTATION CONTINUE TO CREATE AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR PEDESTRIAN (ESPECIALLY SCHOOL CHILDREN) AND VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.
WOULD LIKE DEVELOPERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE ON KNOXVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION TO CONSIDER THE CHARACTER OF THE RESPECTIVE NEIGHBORHOODS INSTEAQD OF FOCUSING SOLELY ON GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.
THANK YOU.