Disposition Summary

Deny the TN (Traditional Neighborhood) place type because there are no changes in the landscape or policy considerations to support a plan amendment.

---

Staff Recommendation

Deny the TN (Traditional Neighborhood) place type because there are no changes in the landscape or policy considerations to support a plan amendment.

---

PURSUANT TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, CHAPTER 3 IMPLEMENTATION, A PLAN AMENDMENT MAY BE APPROPRIATE IF THERE IS AN OBVIOUS OR SIGNIFICANT ERROR OR OMISSION IN THE PLAN, OR IF TWO OR MORE OF THE OTHER CRITERIA APPLY.

OBVIOUS OR SIGNIFICANT ERROR OR OMMISSION IN THE PLAN:
1. The small section of the RC (Rural Conservation) place type along the rear of the subject property is part of a large swath of the RC designation along the wooded Beaver Ridgeline running southwest to northeast in this area of the Karns community. Its placement aligns with the intent of the RC place type to conserve forested areas, ridges, wetlands and other significant natural features. The section of RC place type on this property is not the result of an error or omission in the Comprehensive Plan.

IF THERE ARE NO ERRORS OR OMMISSIONS, TWO OF THE FOLLOWING CRITIERIA MUST BE MET:

CHANGES OF CONDITIONS (SUCH AS SURROUNDING LAND USES, ZONING, UNCONTROLLED NATURAL FORCES/DISASTERS, ETC.):
1. Beaver Ridge remains a prominent natural feature of the area, and there have not been changes to this scenic asset that warrant a plan amendment to the TN (Traditional Neighborhood) place type, which is intended for intensive residential development.

INTRODUCTION OF SIGNIFICANT NEW UTILITIES OR LOCAL/STATE/FEDERAL ROAD PROJECTS THAT WERE NOT ANTICIPATED IN THE PLAN AND MAKE DEVELOPMENT MORE FEASIBLE:
1. There are no capital improvements or infrastructure changes in this area that were not considered in the Comprehensive Plan.

NEW DATA REGARDING TRENDS OR PROJECTIONS, POPULATION, HOUSING CONDITIONS, OR TRAFFIC GROWTH THAT WARRANT RECONSIDERATION OF THE ORIGINAL PLAN:
1. While Knox County continues to see population growth and increasing demand for housing, this does not warrant reconsideration of the RC place type to conserve a ridgeline unsuitable for residential development. The RC place type comprises approximately 3.8% of the subject property, and its exclusion from a TN approach to residential development on the rest of the site does not significantly impact housing availability.

THE PROPOSED CHANGES SUPPORT THE POLICIES AND ACTIONS, GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND CRITERIA OF THE PLAN:
1. Maintaining the RC place type is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan's Implementation Policy 2.3 to provide protections for ridges, views and open spaces. It is also aligned with Policy 7 to encourage development practices that conserve and connect natural features and habitat.