Thank you for your feedback and continued interest in your communities!
25 Comments
Showing 26-50 of 174 results
Bob, 37920
December 19, 2023
Hello -- The Kimley Horn project manager told the Growth Committee at the October meeting that the unincorporated area of the county is projected to add 70,000 residents by 2040. How was that number arrived at? I have emailed gpp@advanceknox.org with a spreadsheet i made using calculations based on Census Data and Boyd Center projections, showing that the projected increase would more likely be around 55,000 or less.
Andy, 37920
December 19, 2023
I am a south Knox countian, and I am expressing my opposition to changing the designation of land use designation along Simpson Rd and Highland View Dr. from Agricultural to Surburban Residential. The community doesn't want the change, and it appears the change is only being made to accommodate potential future higher density development, so that planning and zoning officials can claim that higher density is not out of character with the rest of the community, in the event that a developer wants to make the area higher density. Same issue with proposing changes to land use north of Chapman Highway, up to White School Road and Sevierville Pike. This has traditionally been zoned agricultural, and placing Traditional Neighborhood on this area is not accurate. The community opposes this new designation. What makes citizens angry are centralized planners who ignore the desires of the community, because planners think they know better, or because the planners simply have different priorities than the people who actually live in the community.
As a side note when a purchaser buys property, such as a big developer, the purchaser doesn't get to change the land use ipso facto because the purchaser bought the land. The rest of the folks that live in the community get to weigh in. The answer from the rest of the community, in this situation is NO.
Wayne, 37914
December 19, 2023
The Proposed Future Land Use Map (FLUM) appears to show the area below Thorn Grove Pike west and east of Midway Rd. (which is adjacent to but outside the Midway Business Park) changed to Rural Crossroads Commercial in spite of the fact that two recent commercial rezoning requests were voted down 11 - 0*. They were unanimously defeated because those requests conflict with East Knox Community Plan and promises made by County Commission to keep businesses inside the currently empty business park. Also, the area north of Thorn Grove Pike at Midway outside the Midway Business Park is improperly shown to be Rural Crossroads Commercial.
The FLUM should be amended to show those areas as Rural and not Planned Growth Areas.
Developers will use this incorrect version of the map to support their applications for commercial development outside the Midway Business Park before the Park is full despite the conflict with the East Knox Community Plan and promises made by elected officials who may or may not remember those promises to the community.
* 1-V-23-RZ rezoning request and the 2-B-23-SP sector plan amendment request and RLA-14278 Thorn Grove Pike rezone
Kevin
December 19, 2023
Dear Growth Plan Committee
If we lose some or most of these local Knox County farmers, we accelerate the loss of the rural character and heritage of Knox County. This is our touchstone to our past - to who we are as East Tennesseans. Our rural areas and farms give us places close by that allow us to slow down, to experience a slower pace of life, and to enjoy the natural beauty of our land. If any of you have watched "The Heartland Series", you understand exactly what this means.
The best neighbor for a farm is... another farm. We need land use policies that incentivize farms continuing to be farms. Farmers help each other. The more farms we have, the stronger and more resilient our agricultural industry is.
What I perceive is that farmers have been seeing farms sold off one by one for years. Each of these farms, turning into a subdivision, is mourned by the remaining farmers. They are losing friends and peers who they can share knowledge and experience with.
For years they have felt like they are putting fingers into the dike. With the expanded Planned Growth Area, it looks like a huge wave of water coming towards them that will overwhelm all of the remaining farmers holding that dike in place.
We need land use policies that encourage entire areas, not just individual parcels, to be set aside for farming, natural areas and open spaces - to create that community and ecosystem where these can thrive, instead of being under constant threat from the next development proposal.
If there are existing farms, open space, and natural areas, then we should use those as starting points for designating Rural Areas, and encourage those traits by making sure there is plenty of Rural Area around them to help build and maintain that ecosystem.
Julia, 37918
December 18, 2023
Part 3:
Please remember that many people on this end of town are farmers. We have fertile ground here. Please don't allow developers to develop that land. Agriculture is a resource; if we build over the growing grounds, those can be lost forever. Everyone that comes out this way comments about how beautiful and peaceful it is. I can't imagine losing all this open space, these amazing views, these trees... I understand the developers want to make money. I understand that people need homes. But people in the Ritta community don't want to become overcrowded. We ask that you leave us some open space and some of the character and integrity that has made this community ours and so beloved to so many of us.
One thing you can't make more of is land. If you destroy it or build on all of it, you can't make more. The developers will get rich now, but the communities will suffer.
Julia , 37918
December 18, 2023
Part 2:
Due to the development that has already taken place, we already struggle with traffic issues. There has been no real road improvements to this area, and there are none planned. Most of us locals take back roads, but those are becoming developed and congested now, too. Our schools are becoming full, and we already lack certain amenities. Our closest hospital was St. Mary's, and that was closed.
If you want to develop, please be thoughtful with your plans. Please leave some open spaces, some trees, stop developing ridges, which I thought wasn't even supposed to happen anymore. Please leave the integrity of this community; stop putting multiple houses to an acre! Certain builders just come in and create the same subdivision over and over with 4 or 5 floor plans...there is no character to that whatsoever. Be a good neighbor, considerate of your surroundings and the character of the area.
Also, if you plan to allow so much development, please think ahead toward future needs...parks, schools, roads. Please don't develop before these things are established and in place to support the growth. It would be a disaster to not have the infrastructure in place to handle the population.
Julia, 37918
December 18, 2023
Part 1:
I have lived in the Ritta community my entire life. I have watched as farms have been developed and acres of trees have been cut down to develop subdivision after subdivision. I understand that the Knoxville area is growing and homes are needed, but I fail to understand why we must pack 5 homes to an acre and why every inch of land must be developed. At one time, the requirement for building in this area was one house per acre. Most people that I know wish they could have one acre of land or even half an acre, yet these greedy developers want to pack these homes in on top of each other. People have no peace and no privacy.
I am raising my children in the same community I was raised in, but it looks much different. With the implementation of the Growth Plan, it will be unrecognizable. We live in this community because it's a community. Many of us were raised together and know each other. We live here because we love it. We love our farms and our mountains. We love our trees and our open spaces. I have heard that the developers want this area to be the next Hardin Valley. The people of the Ritta community don't want this to be the next Hardin Valley. If we wanted to live in Hardin Valley, we would live there. We live here because we love our scenic views. The development being proposed will take all of that away.
Sharon, 37922
December 18, 2023
TCA 6-58-104(3) states: « Prior to finalization of the recommended growth plan, the coordinating committee shall conduct at least two (2) public hearings. The county shall give at least fifteen (15) days advance notice of the time, place and purpose of each public hearing by notice published in a newspaper of general circulation throughout the county. » Knox County failed to give required 15 days advance notice. The meeting notice, although dated Dec. 1, 2023, was not published in the Knoxville News Sentinel until Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. Legally, the counting begins the next day after the notice is published.
Matthew, 37920
December 18, 2023
The Advance Knox process has been one of public input and debate. The current plan does not include Parcels 138270 8802. These were not identified through the process as a place where growth is needed, and with good reason. The infrastructure, surrounding area, and local community do not support this part of Knox County to be part of the growth plan.
I ask that you reject the notion of adding these additional parcels to the growth plan at the 11th hour. To add these, despite strong public opposition, would undermine the entire process of Advance Knox.
For additional details, please refer to policies 18 and 19 and their associated action items in the Comprehensive Plan. These can be found starting on page 64. These items demonstrate how the Comprehensive Plan will continue coordinating growth with infrastructure and amenities.
-
The Growth Policy Plan and the draft Comprehensive Land Use and Transportation Plan is supported by the Systemwide Parks and Recreation Master Plan, a separate document that includes recommendations for upgrading existing parks, programming, and staffing. The Comprehensive Plan (pg. 46) builds off this plan to consider priority investment areas for new park facilities based on existing park deserts and residential development. As resources are identified, the park deserts map referenced will serve as the first step towards identifying priority areas to be considered for the development of future parks and recreation facilities.
As new park locations are identified and built, consideration will be given to the programs and amenities offered at each based on identified needs and gaps in the surrounding park programs and amenities.
Kevin, 37918
December 17, 2023
I asked Nourish Knoxville for some stats about Knox County Agriculture and the local farmers market. Here is some information demonstrating the impact of local agriculture on our community:- In the last 12 months, the Market Square and Winter Farmers markets had about 157,500 total attendees.- The New Harvest Farmers Market had about 13,500 attendees for the 2023 season.
- There are 31 agricultural vendors from Knox County at the Farmers Markets for 2023 - those are vendors who grow or farm in Knox County.
Certainly the Market Square Farmers Market is an economic engine for downtown, with visitors also patronizing downtown restaurants, shops, festivals and events. If Market Square was a mall, then the Farmers Market would be the anchor tenant.
And there are more agricultural vendors who do not sell at the Farmers Market, but sell directly to local restaurants and grocery stores and to the public through CSAs. Our local produce and food products are featured in our best local restaurants, which have helped give Knoxville a reputation for being a great food destination.
Local agriculture is important to our economy and our community. It sets us apart.
Margaret, 37920
December 14, 2023
Many of us local residents in this long-rural area participated in good faith in the Advance Knox community workshops, appreciating the opportunity to contribute our local knowledge to the process and to be heard by the Coordinating Committee. We cope daily with dangerous traffic and long response times for emergency services. Please do not allow Thunder Mountain Properties - an out-of-county developer with no roots in our area, who will suffer no consequences of the deleterious impacts of yet more super sub-divisions - enter the planning process at the eleventh hour with a wholly self-serving request to expand the Planned Growth Area against the needs and wishes of our community.
Margie, 37920
December 14, 2023
RE: Parcels 150BC001; 138 104 and 138 270 (all parcels owned by Thunder Mountain Properties).
I write to urge the Coordinating Committee to adopt the Growth Plan Map as proposed without any additional Planned Growth Area. The proposed plan thoughtfully balances maintaining rural areas, preserving precious agricultural land, redeveloping blighted areas, optimizing infrastructure, concentrating growth/combating sprawl, avoiding further pressure on already-over-burdened roads and emergency services, and respecting the needs and wishes of the local community.
Adding the above-referenced parcels will drive sprawl, consume farmland, and ignore the needs of the local community.
Connie, 37920
December 12, 2023
To Advance Knoxville: First of all, thank you for the work you have done to present a new growth plan for Knox County.
Your current recommendation appears to be a good compromise between the current desires of rural residents of Knox County and developers hoping to invade the area.
However, I understand that Thunder Mountain Developers are seeking to have the plan amended prior to the upcoming vote.
I urge you to stand firm to the principles behind your recommended plan. South Knox County residents are not opposed to reasonable growth, however allowing 4+houses per acre to be built will produce an increased burden to the already crowded schools in South Knox County, not to mention roads in the area.
Please stand firm against the pressure of these developers. Thank you
Phillip W., 37920
December 12, 2023
I grew up and dry Hollow community in the 1950s and 60s. I enjoyed the farming community and enjoyed walking through the fields and walking the Rocky roads. I realize some changes are good, and I realize Some changes are bad, especially if they’re not suited for the growth plan of that fits that community. These developers, in most instances have moved to their own gated communities where they can hold off these high density cheap properties . I do not think all the proper studies have been submitted in order to make a good decision on these Developments.
Joe, 37920
December 10, 2023
My comment is about the project going on Evens road.#1This mess is going to look like the mess built on Higland View road with those cheap looking houses over there and people there are not happy.#2 I live 1 block away and traffic is going triple a least taxes have already gone up and will increase more I'm sure.#3 I'm sure some of Ower reps out here got a pretty good payment for the ok of this . #4 the houses are of very low quality ask the people living in those on Higland road. Doesn't matter as long it's not in your hood.
Bradey, 37920
December 9, 2023
As a member of the Dry Hollow Community who has been actively involved in the meeting concerning the potential thunder mountain development. It greatly concerns me that the growth plan is being questioned yet again. I was told previously that the prior growth plan was old and needed updating and so I understood when it was redone. However, following the publication of the new growth Plano have heard that some are pushing for it to be revised. I don’t understand why this would need revising if it is brand new. It concerns me even more however, that they are simply revising this plan purely because it does not suit their own concept of growth in the county. The community has used their voice and objected to this, not without support from officials I might add, yet they are still ignored. In a day where we are constantly pushing for more involvement in decisions like this one when they are involved they are paid not attention. There is not greater example of a corrupt government than the one in Knox county and I firmly believe this issue shows that the elected officials do not care for the community, it’s residents, or the potential affects of their choices.
Cynthia, 37920
December 9, 2023
I am a citizen of the dry Hollow Community in South Knox County. This area has Ben my home place since my Mom and Dad purchased back in 1970. My parents passed in early 2000, and my youngest sister and I purchased & live here because we enjoy living in a nice, quiet rural community. That will all change if the following parcels are allowed to be addd to the new growth plan - Parcel 150BC001 0 Chapman Hwy, Parcel 138104 8744 Chapman Hwy, Parcel 138270 8802 Sevierville Pk. Please DO NOT add them! It will bring in too many people and traffic for our little country roads, not to mention the added danger of Chapman Hwy!
Dawn, 37920
December 8, 2023
Thank you Advanced Knox for your hard work in compiling and analyzing what the citizens of our county want for growth and development for our future. Overall we think your new plan is a good plan and reflects our wishes!!!
We are concerned however with the request of Thunder Mountain Property and their Representative asking to modify the growth plan and change their parcels to higher density zoning We strongly object! We feel there has been plenty of new areas added to provide higher growth along Chapman HWY, we would like to maintain our rural setting and not allow urban sprawl to occur at the furthest areas of our county. We also object to developers who don't live in our county having a larger say than the hundreds and hundreds of citizens in Dry Hollow!
We respectfully ask you to reject Thunder Mountains request and adopt the growth plan in its current configuration!! Thank you
Daniel, 37902
December 8, 2023
Please see the attached letter submitted on behalf of Loveday Springs and the Dry Hollow Community. The Dry Hollow Community encourages the Coordinating Committee to adopt the Growth Policy Plan Map as proposed without any further Planned Growth Area in South Knox County. Members of this community actively participated in the Advance Knox process. We believe the proposed Growth Policy Plan Map accurately reflects the desires and needs of the community. It also respects the priorities of conservation of rural character and prime farmland.
We are aware of a request to add Planned Growth Area to the east of Evans Road and to the west and east of Sevierville Pike. Loveday Springs and Dry Hollow strongly oppose the request to add any Planned Growth area to the Growth Policy Plan Map. Additional Planned Growth Area is not in line with the priorities established in the Advance Knox process.
Brad, 37920
December 7, 2023
For some reason many comments are no longer showing on this page.
Parcel 138270 8802 should was not in the previous growth plan and should not be added. We attended all of planning sessions to voice our concerns for the new growth plan. Our infrastructure has not changed enough to accommodate anymore inconsistent subdivisions. Please listen to the people who live here and not developers on here who only care about profits
Sandra, 37914
December 6, 2023
What is the legal standing of sector plans, small area plans, regional transportation plans, countywide plans, and city plans if the Growth Policy Plan text removes the existing reference to sector plans?
The same question applies to the proposed Comprehensive Plan, if adopted, as it presently does not reference these other planning studies? Given the Comprehensive Plan is more generally worded, wouldn't these smaller scale, more detailed plans remain influential?
Amanda, 37920
December 4, 2023
The new analysis from the knox team is correct! Please do not allow parcels 150bc001,138104,138270 to be added! So many of us attended the workshops to try and avoid a catastrophe in South Knoxville near the Sevier County line. Please help us stop this area from becoming over populated! Keep it consistent
Bradley, 37920
December 4, 2023
Parcel 138 270 is not in the previous planned growth area and definitely should not be added. I participated in every community input session and voiced these concerns whenever possible. Our roads and infrastructure in this area simply can not sustain another massive subdivision like Thunder Mountain is trying to force on our community. Please keep this area consistent to what is already here.