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Staff Recommendation

Approve the RA (Low Density Residential) zone because it is consistent with the Knox County Comprehensive Plan and the surrounding area.

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PURSUANT TO THE KNOX COUNTY ZONING ORDINANCE, ARTICLE 16.30.01, THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS MUST BE MET FOR ALL REZONINGS (must meet all of these):

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT SHALL BE NECESSARY BECAUSE OF SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGED OR CHANGING CONDITIONS IN THE AREA AND DISTRICTS AFFECTED, OR IN THE COUNTY GENERALLY:
1. There have been several rezonings in this neighborhood along Overton Ln and Verton Dr from A to RA since 2020. Also, a mile north is the I-75 Interchange at Emory Road where TDOT is undergoing a major construction project to convert this diamond interchange into a Diverging Diamond in order to move high volumes of traffic.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENT AND PURPOSE OF THE APPLICABLE ZONING ORDINANCE:
1. The RA zone provides for residential areas with low population densities. The RA zone allows single-family houses with sewer on 10,000 sq ft lots and duplexes and garage apartments on 12,000 sq ft lots with use on review approval by the Planning Commission.
2. Rezonings should be based on the entire range of uses allowed within a zone to ensure that any development brought forth at a future time would be compatible with the surrounding land uses. The RA zone primarily allows residential uses, which aligns with the existing residential character of the area.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT SHALL NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT ANY OTHER PART OF THE COUNTY, NOR SHALL ANY DIRECT OR INDIRECT ADVERSE EFFECTS RESULT FROM SUCH AMENDMENT.
1. Beaver Creek and the Floodway zone run across the rear of the property. No structures are allowed within the Floodway zone.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH AND NOT IN CONFLICT WITH THE GENERAL PLAN OF KNOXVILLE AND KNOX COUNTY, INCLUDING ANY OF ITS ELEMENTS, MAJOR ROAD PLAN, LAND USE PLAN, COMMUNITY FACILITIES PLAN, AND OTHERS:
1. The property is within the SR (Suburban Residential) place type and SP (Stream Protection) area on the Future Land Use map. RA is considered directly related, meaning the zoning district is appropriate to consider in this place type.
2. This request brings the zoning into compliance with the Knox County Comprehensive Plan, as the current A zoning is not a zone that can be considered under the SR place type. The SR place type calls for primarily single family residential development and attached dwellings that have the scale of a single family home. The RA zone allows single family homes, duplexes, and garage apartments.
3. The property is within the Urban Growth Boundary. The purposes of the Urban Growth Boundary designation are to encourage a reasonably compact pattern of development, promote the expansion of the Knox County economy, offer a wide range of housing choices, and coordinate the actions of the public and private sectors, particularly with regard to the provision of adequate roads, utilities, schools, drainage and other public facilities and services. This development is in alignment with these goals.