Disposition Summary

Approve the CA (General Business) zone because it is consistent with the Knox County Comprehensive Plan and compatible with surrounding development.

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Staff Recommendation

Approve the CA (General Business) zone because it is consistent with the Knox County Comprehensive Plan and compatible with 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 COUNTY GENERALLY:
1. This area north of I-40 is experiencing significant residential growth, with minor commercial developments in recent times. Examples of residential developments that are currently under construction include a 349-unit apartment complex across the subject parcel (Universal at Strawberry Plains), a 24-lot detached residential subdivision to the east (Hunters Woods, Phase II), and a 322-lot subdivision of attached and detached dwellings along Brakebill Road (Strawberry Hills).
2. These changing conditions in the immediate vicinity support consideration of the commercial rezoning at this location.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENT AND PURPOSE OF THE APPLICABLE ZONING ORDINANCE:
1. The CA zone is intended to accommodate general retail business and services. The subject parcel is at the edge of an existing commercial node, and the area meets the intent of the zoning ordinance.
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 proposed CA zone is compatible with the nearby nonresidential zones, including the C-H-2 (Highway Commercial) district in the City and the OB (Office, Medical, and Related Services) zone in the County.
2. The adjacent eastern property is zoned A (Agricultural) and is currently vacant.

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 CA zone would bring zoning into compliance with the CC (Corridor Commercial) place type of this property, as designated in the Knox County Comprehensive Plan. The existing A zone is not permitted in the CC place type, but the requested CA zone is directly related to it.
2. The proposed rezoning aligns with Implementation Policy 2 of the Knox County Comprehensive Plan to ensure that development is sensitive to existing community character. The CA zone is compatible with nearby commercial developments and can provide retail businesses and services for the residential expansion in this area.
3. The East County Community Plan identifies Strawberry Plains Pike as a Development Corridor, which encourages a more intense development pattern along this minor arterial street.
4. The rezoning is also aligned with the property's location in the Urban Growth Boundary of the Growth Policy Plan and is consistent with the policies related to the Urban Growth Boundary.