To be heard November 12, 2026Agenda Item No. 28

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Staff Recommendation

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

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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. In 2015, the adjacent property and a portion of the subject property was rezoned from A (Agricultural) to RA (Low Density Residential).
2. Road improvements were completed in 2023, with a roundabout installation at 0.5 miles to the southwest at the intersection of W Beaver Creek Drive, Brickyard Road, and Lyngate Boulevard. This improvement facilitates safer direct access to Powell Drive. An upcoming capital project will provide a realignment at the intersection of Clinton Highway and W Beaver Creek Drive at 1.43 miles to the southwest of the subject property.
3. Residential development continues along W Beaver Creek Drive, with the current construction of a 60-lot attached single-family subdivision at 535 feet to the southwest, as well as a 30-lot single-family detached subdivision completed in 2020 at 0.61 miles to the northeast. Commercial development is growing along Powell Drive, with three recent non-residential rezonings within 0.25 miles the northwest (6-C-17-RZ, 4-S-26-RZ, and 5-S-26-RZ).

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENT AND PURPOSE OF THE APPLICABLE ZONING ORDINANCE:
1. The RA zone is intended for residential areas with low population densities. The RA zone would allow for this property to be subdivided into three parcels by right, which aligns with the existing residential character of the area as RA is the predominant zone.
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 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. The RA zone permits development that is compatible with surrounding residences. There is no adverse impact anticipated to occur with the proposed rezoning.

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 RA zone is directly related to the subject property's SR (Suburban Residential) designation in the Knox County Comprehensive Plan. This request brings the subject property's zoning into compliance with the Comprehensive Plan, as the current A zone is not one which can be considered under the SR place type. The SR place type is intended for areas comprised of single-family residences on lot sizes ranging in size and housing type.
2. The recommended rezoning aligns with the Comprehensive Plan's Implementation Policy 2, to ensure that new development is sensitive to existing community character. The lot sizes and allowable uses in the RA zone are consistent with the surrounding area.
3. The subject property is located within the Planned Growth Area of the Growth Policy Plan, which is aligned with the proposed rezoning as it encourages a wide range of housing choices and a reasonably compact pattern of development.