To be heard December 11, 2025Agenda Item No. 28

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Staff Recommendation

Approve the PR zone with up to 5 du/ac because it is consistent with the adopted plans and surrounding development, subject to 1 condition.

1) Development shall provide street connectivity to parcel 056 10402, subject to review and approval by the Knox County Engineering & Public Works Department during the development plan phase.

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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 ZONES AFFECTED, OR IN THE COUNTY GENERALLY.
1. Since the early 1980s, there has been a gradual transition from A (Agricultural) zoning to RA (Low Density Residential) and PR (Planned Residential) ranging from up to 2.5 to 15 du/ac. Commercial zoning has been concentrated south of the subject property along E Emory and W Emory Roads, consisting of properties zoned CA (General Business) in the County and C-R-2 (Regional Commercial) in the City.
2. In October 2025, the Tennessee Department of Transportation began construction on the I-75 at Emory Road Improvement Project, which will reconfigure the interchange to move high volumes of traffic more efficiently. The project will also connect the disjointed sidewalks between E Emory Road and W Emory Road, allowing pedestrians safe access through the interchange.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENT AND PURPOSES OF THE APPLICABLE ZONING ORDINANCE.
1. The PR zone provides flexibility for residential development, allowing a mix of residential uses and lot sizes that would be characterized by a unified building and site development program.
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 allowable uses and housing types in the PR zone with up to 5 du/ac would be consistent with the variety of housing types along Heiskell Road, which consist of single-family and townhouse developments on a wide range of lot sizes.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT SHALL NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT ANY OTHER PART OF THE COUNTY NOR SHALL ANY DIRECT OR INDIRECT ADVERSE EFFECTS RESULT FROM SUCH AN AMENDMENT.
1. The PR zone ensures that site plans undergo a public review process and obtain Planning Commission approval of any proposed developments. The plan will be reviewed to determine whether the proposed development is compatible with the surrounding community.
2. The PR zone with up to 5 du/ac is compatible with the surrounding residential zoning, which includes properties zoned RA, RB (General Residential), and PR ranging from up to 2.5 to 15 du/ac. As such, it is not anticipated to negatively impact the surrounding area.

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 subject property is designated as the SR (Suburban Residential) place type in the Knox County Comprehensive Plan, which recommends primarily residential uses such as single-family and attached residential. The PR zone is partially related to the SR place type and additional criteria must be met for partially related zones. The proposed rezoning meets the first criterion, as the allowable housing types in the PR zone with up to 5 du/ac are consistent with the recommended land use mix.
2. The proposed 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. The subject property is approximately 0.41 miles north of Emory Road, which features an array of retail and service-oriented establishments, as well as community amenities such as the Powell Public Library and the Collier Nature Preserve, which has a public access launch to Beaver Creek.
3. The recommended condition to provide street connectivity to the neighboring property to the southeast, zoned PR up to 5 du/ac, complies with Implementation Policy 11, to promote connectivity with new development, and Implementation Policy 14, to promote network efficiency to reduce congestion.
4. The subject property is in the Planned Growth Area of the Growth Policy Plan, which aims to encourage a reasonably compact pattern of development, promote expansion of the Knoxville-Knox County economy, and offer a wide range of housing choices. The rezoning supports the intent of the Planned Growth Area.