Disposition Summary

Approve the request to remove the condition to install sidewalks on the internal loop road per Concept Plan 8-SA-21-C and 9-SC-19-C, subject to 1 condition.

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Staff Recommendation

Approve the request to remove the condition to install sidewalks on the internal loop road per Concept Plan 8-SA-21-C and 9-SC-19-C, subject to 1 condition.

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1) Meeting all conditions of the previous Concept Plan approvals for the Dorchester subdivision (8-SA-21-C and 9-SC-19-C), except for the installation of sidewalks.

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This request is to remove the sidewalk condition of the previous two concept plans (8-SA-21-C and 9-SC-19-C). In 2019, the sidewalk was proposed around the internal loop portion of Road A to meet the PR objective of providing an amenity for the residents. The Knox County Department of Engineering and Public Works has agreed to reduce the pavement width from 26' to 22' for this portion of Road 'A' and Road 'B'.

A few months after the 2019 concept plan was approved, Knox County adopted the "Sidewalk Ordinance" (Chapter 54, Article IV) of the Knox County Code. This subdivision does not meet the requirements to install sidewalks per the sidewalk ordinance. However, since there was a condition of the Concept Plan to install the sidewalks, to Planning Commission must approve the removal of the sidewalks for them not to be required.

The 2021 Concept Plan was for 9 additional lots on the short cul-de-sac road, which brought this proposal up to a total of 79 lots. Condition #3 of the 2021 Concept Plan approval states that the total number of lots allowed must be verified when the subdivision is platted to ensure the density of the subdivision does not exceed the maximum of 4 du/ac. The 2021 and current concept plans list that the total area of the subdivision is 19.46 acres, which results in a density of 4.06 du/ac. According to this information presented, 78 lots is the maximum allowed so as not to exceed the maximum approved density of 4 du/ac.

The 2019, 2021, and current concept plans all show a sinkhole in the vicinity of lot 29 and 64, as labeled on the current plan. This sinkhole must be shown on the final plat for the subdivision unless a geotechnical study is provided to and approved by Knox County Engineering and Public Works that demonstrates that this closed depression is not a sinkhole, and the geotechnical engineer must sign a certification on the final plat as provided by Knox County Engineering and Public Works.

The sight distance at the entrance to the subdivision must be certified before the final plat can be certified. The sight distance to the north is still compromised. One potential solution is to increase the elevation of Road 'A' at the Carpenter Road intersection. This results in an intersection grade of 2%, which requires an alternative design standard to be approved by Knox County Engineering and Public Works (Knox County EPW). Knox County EPW does not oppose this intersection grade because it is less than 3% grade allowed as an alternative design standard and meets the ADA cross-slope standard if a sidewalk is installed along this frontage in the future.

In addition, the developer must widen Carpenter Road to 18-ft per the 2019 concept plan approval.