Disposition Summary

Approve the AG (Agricultural) district because it is consistent with adjacent development and adopted plans for the area.

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Staff Recommendation

Approve the AG (Agricultural) district because it is consistent with adjacent development and adopted plans for the area.

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PURSUANT TO THE CITY OF KNOXVILLE ZONING ORDINANCE, SECTION 16.1.E, ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS MUST BE MET FOR ALL REZONINGS:

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT SHALL BE NECESSARY BECAUSE OF SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGED OR CHANGING CONDITIONS IN THE AREA AND DISTRICTS AFFECTED, OR IN THE CITY/COUNTY GENERALLY:
1. The subject property's RN-1 (Single-Family Residential Neighborhood) zoning district is an outlier within a cohesive and long-standing AG (Agricultural) zoned area. The property did have agricultural zoning until 2005, when it was rezoned from the A-1 (General Agricultural) district to the R-1A (Low Density Residential) district.
2. The subject property was recently replatted and merged with two adjoining parcels zoned AG. It is through these parcels that the subject property has access to the public right-of-way. Restoring AG zoning to this property is a logical extension of existing permitted land uses.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENT AND PURPOSE OF THE APPLICABLE ZONING ORDINANCE:
1. The AG zone is intended to permit lands best suited for agriculture to be used for agricultural purposes. Its purpose is to prevent the encroachment of incompatible land uses on farm lands and protect the physical and economic well-being of agricultural operations, which comprise an important part of the local economy.
2. The dimensional standards for the AG zoning district list a minimum lot area of 5 acres. Although the subject parcel is only 1.06 acres in size, it has been replatted to combine it with two other AG-zoned lots which, together, amount to 3 acres. Rezoning the subject property to the AG district would decrease the existing dimensional nonconformity, by increasing the total AG-zoned area from approximately 2 to 3 acres. This is consistent with Article 17.3.D of the City's Zoning Ordinance pertaining to lot consolidation of nonconforming lots.
3. The proposed rezoning brings the total property closer to compliance with the dimensional standards of the zoning ordinance. Returning the subject property to its original agricultural zoning would also reverse an enroachment of residential land use in an AG area, and protect future agricultural operations. In these ways, the requested rezoning is consistent with the intent of the zoning ordinance.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT SHALL NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT ANY OTHER PART OF THE CITY, NOR SHALL ANY DIRECT OR INDIRECT ADVERSE EFFECTS RESULT FROM SUCH AMENDMENT.
1. The property is separated from an adjacent townhouse development to the south by a privacy fence, and there are several other AG-zoned properties abutting to this residential community as well. There are no adverse impacts anticipated to occur with a minor extension of the AG zoning district at this location.

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 proposed zoning is permitted in the LDR (Low Density Residential) land use classification in the Northwest County Sector Plan and the One Year Plan.
2. Rezoning to the AG district would not be in conflict with the General Plan or any other adopted plans.

ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, SCHOOLS, PARKS, POLICE AND FIRE PROTECTION, ROADS, SANITARY SEWERS, AND WATER LINES, OR ARE REASONABLY CAPABLE OF BEING PROVIDED PRIOR TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IF THE AMENDMENT WERE ADOPTED:
1. There is ample infrastructure capacity for this proposed downzoning, and development permitted in the AG district is not anticipated to cause a strain on existing community facilities or utilities.