Disposition Summary

Approve the OB (Office, Medical, and Related Services) zone because it is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and surrounding development.

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Staff Recommendation

Approve the OB (Office, Medical, and Related Services) zone because it is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and surrounding development.

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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 DISTRICTS AFFECTED, OR IN THE CITY/COUNTY GENERALLY:
1. The subject property is part of a built-out node of corporate office, commercial, light industrial and manufacturing uses along Lovell Road and I-40/I-75. The most significant recent changes to conditions in the area exist nearby to the north on Lovell Road, where multifamily developments underway provide a total of approximately 850 new residential units. These developing properties were rezoned to the OB (Office, Medical, and Related Services) zone in 2020 and 2021, and this zone permits residential development consistent with the RB (General Residential) zone in addition to offices and other uses.
2. These changing conditions support the requested rezoning to OB on the subject property because it aligns with surrounding office uses and nearby multifamily development.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENT AND PURPOSE OF THE APPLICABLE ZONING ORDINANCE:
1. The OB zone is designed for professional and business offices and related activities that require separate buildings and building groups surrounded by landscaped yards and open areas. The intent is to provide centralized, compact locations for businesses, offices, clinics, medical and dental offices near residential neighborhoods. Residential development is also permitted.
2. The subject property currently functions as a trucking terminal, which is one of the more intensive uses in the area. Rezoning to OB would align permitted uses with the predominant development pattern in the area, which is office and commercial uses surrounded by residential development. Rezoning this property to OB is consistent with the intent of the district.

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. There are no adverse impacts anticipated to occur with the proposed rezoning, which would permit uses that are compatible with surrounding business development in an area with ample infrastructure capacity.
2. Due to the existing use as a trucking terminal, soil mitigation will likely be required to clean oil and gasoline from the site, improving site conditions. This would be determined during the permitting process.

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 place type for the subject property in the Knox County Comprehensive Plan is the CC (Corridor Commercial) designation. Corridor Commercial areas are situated along major transportation corridors that are appropriate for a mix of commercial development including shopping centers, large format retail, and auto-oriented uses with well-connected pedestrian accommodations.
2. The OB zone is permitted in the CC place type as a directly related zone, whereas the existing CB (Business and Manufacturing) zoning is considered partially related. As such, rezoning this parcel to OB would bring zoning closer into alignment with the Comprehensive Plan.
3. This rezoning is consistent with the subject parcel's location in the Planned Growth Area of the Growth Policy Plan, which encourages a reasonably compact pattern of development.