Disposition Summary

Approve the One Year Plan amendment to the MU-NC (Mixed Use Neighborhood Center) land use classification because it is compatible with surrounding development and changing conditions. The HP (Hillside Protection) will be retained.

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Staff Recommendation

Approve the One Year Plan amendment to the MU-NC (Mixed Use Neighborhood Center) land use classification because it is compatible with surrounding development and changing conditions. The HP (Hillside Protection) will be retained.

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ONE YEAR PLAN AMENDMENT REQUIREMENTS (May meet any one of these):

CHANGES OF CONDITIONS WARRANTING AMENDMENT OF THE LAND USE PLAN:
1. This property is part of the Western Heights affordable housing community, which is undergoing major federally-funded revitalization efforts to provide new housing and social and commercial services.
2. The proposed One Year Plan amendment from MDR (Medium Density Residential) to the MU-NC (Mixed Use Neighborhood Center) land use classification would allow for a more diverse range of housing and commercial development in a location that is well suited for these uses.

AN ERROR IN THE PLAN:
1. The One Year Plan could have considered how the subject property meets all relevant location criteria for the MU-NC designation. The Plan describes how this land use should be located in areas with sidewalks and transit that are at the intersection of local streets and thoroughfares with adjacent low or medium density residential uses. All of these conditions are met by the subject property.

A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE DEVELOPMENT PATTERN, OR THE COMPLETION OF A PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT (ROAD, PARK, SEWER), WHICH CHANGES THE BASIS ON WHICH THE PLAN WAS DEVELOPED FOR AN AREA:
1. A new Head Start preschool was recently built next to the subject property.
2. The next phase of the community-driven revitalization plan, called Transforming Western Heights, is breaking ground nearby to build new multifamily housing following a One Year Plan amendment approval that will permit more residential density there.
3. These ongoing improvements to the area support consideration of the MU-NC designation to build upon this planned redevelopment.

A CHANGE IN PUBLIC POLICY, UNANTICIPATED BY THE PLAN:
1. There are no significant changes to public policy that pertain to the proposed land use amendment.

NEW INFORMATION (INCLUDING NEW PLANS AND STUDIES PRODUCED BY KNOXVILLE-KNOX COUNTY PLANNING) BECOMING AVAILABLE, WHICH REVEALS THE NEED FOR A PLAN AMENDMENT:
1. A study called the Missing Middle Housing Scan was published in 2022 for the City of Knoxville. It states that between 2010 and 2020, the City population increased by 6.6% while the amount of new housing units only increased by 4.4%. The study projects that by 2040, Knoxville's population will grow by more than 14,000 new residents. It also describes how there is increasing demand for residential developments that are walkable.
2. The proposed plan amendment will help meet housing demand by enabling greater flexibility with regards to housing form and density, while also permitting an integration of neighborhood commercial and office uses in an area that already has sidewalks and transit.