To be heard December 12, 2024Agenda Item No. 30

---

Staff Recommendation

Approve the RB (General Residential) zone because it is a minor extension that provides a compatible transition of land use intensity.

---

PURSUANT TO THE KNOX COUNTY ZONING ORDINANCE, ARTICLE 6.30.01, 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 CITY/COUNTY GENERALLY:
1. The subject property is located along Clinton Highway, between the established single-family Cherrybrook neighborhood to the northwest and service-oriented commercial businesses along the major arterial corridor.
2. Less than a quarter-mile to the west, at the intersection of Schaad Road and Clinton Highway, is the Northwest Crossing and Crown Point Plaza shopping centers. Expansion and infill of this major commercial node is ongoing.
3. These conditions around the subject property support consideration of the requested rezoning to the RB (General Residential) zone. It serves as a transition of land use intensity between low density residential and commercial development, and service-oriented commercial amenities support more intensive residential development here.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENT AND PURPOSE OF THE APPLICABLE ZONING ORDINANCE
1. The RB zone is intended for a medium population density. The principal uses of land may range from houses to multi-dwelling developments. Certain uses which are more compatible functionally with intensive residential uses than with commercial uses are permitted.
2. The subject property's access to Clinton Highway but its buffering from the hazards of that highway by small-scale commercial businesses is well-suited for more intensive residential development.

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 property is well-located for residential land uses ranging from single-family to multi-family developments. The traffic impact of more residents can be accommodated by its major arterial street access. An existing forest buffer can be preserved along the rear to shield the Cherrybrook neighborhood from taller residential buildings and parking lots. Amenities like nearby grocery stores, big box stores, and smaller scale restaurants and businesses support more residential activity as well. There are no adverse impacts anticipated to occur with the proposed rezoning.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH AND NOT IN CONFLICT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF KNOX COUNTY, INCLUDING ANY OF ITS ELEMENTS, MAJOR ROAD PLAN, LAND USE PLAN, COMMUNITY FACILITIES PLAN, AND OTHERS:
1. The RB zone is directly related to the property's SMR (Suburban Mixed Residential) place type in the Knox County Comprehensive Plan. The SMR place type is intended to provide for a greater mix of housing types, including attached housing or small-scale multifamily housing.
2. This rezoning is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan's Implementation Policy 5, to create neighborhoods with a variety of housing types and amenities in close proximity.
3. Rezoning this parcel to RB is consistent with the property's location within the Urban Growth Boundary of the Growth Policy Plan. There is ample infrastructure and services here to support more intensive development.