Disposition Summary

Approve the request for a two-family dwelling in the RN-1 (Single-Family Residential Neighborhood) zoning district, subject to 3 conditions.

---

Staff Recommendation

Approve the request for a two-family dwelling in the RN-1 (Single-Family Residential Neighborhood) zoning district, subject to 3 conditions.

---

1) Meeting all applicable requirements of the City of Knoxville Zoning Ordinance.
2) Meeting all applicable requirements of the City of Knoxville Engineering Department.
3) Meeting all applicable requirements of the City of Knoxville Plans Review and Inspections Department.

---

This request is for a new two-family dwelling comprising approximately 2,960 sq ft. Access is directly off Whittle Springs Road and consists of a single driveway on the side of the building that is long enough to accommodate parking for both units. The two dwellings are separated by a large garage-type space in the middle, which is proposed to be storage. One dwelling is at the front of the structure, the other is at the rear.

STANDARDS FOR EVALUATING A SPECIAL USE (ARTICLE 16.2.F.2)

1) THE USE IS CONSISTENT WITH ADOPTED PLANS AND POLICES, INCLUDING THE GENERAL PLAN AND THE ONE-YEAR PLAN.
A. The proposed use is supported by the General Plan's Development Policy 8.1: Develop "infill" housing on vacant lots and redevelopment parcels. The subject property is currently a vacant grassy lot in the middle of a residential block, with sidewalks along the frontage connecting to the N Broadway commercial corridor to the west and Whittle Springs Middle School to the north.
B. The proposed use is also supported by Development Policy 4.1: Use schools and parks as foundations in planning neighborhoods and communities. The subject property is within the Whittle Spring Middle Parental Responsibility Zone (PRZ). The sidewalks on Whittle Springs Road directly connect to the school, which is approximately 0.13 miles to the north.
C. The proposed two-family dwelling is consistent with the East City Sector Plan and One Year Plan's TDR (Traditional Neighborhood Residential) land use classification, which is intended for primarily residential areas characterized by a mix of detached and attached houses.

2) THE USE IS IN HARMONY WITH THE GENERAL PURPOSE AND INTENT OF THIS ZONING CODE.
A. The RN-1 zoning district is intended to accommodate traditional low density residential neighborhoods exhibiting a predominant development pattern of single-family homes on relatively large lots and with generous setbacks. Two-family dwellings may also be allowed by special use approval.
B. The lot meets the minimum 15,00 sq ft lot size requirement in the RN-1 district. The site plan and building elevations comply with all other RN-1 dimensional standards (Article 4.3) and the Principal Use Standards for two-family dwellings (Article 9.3.J).

3) THE USE IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE IT IS PROPOSED, AND WITH THE SIZE AND LOCATION OF BUILDINGS IN THE VICINITY.
A. The subject property is located on a block that features single-family and two-family dwellings and a corner store neighborhood market. The proposed one-story building would be consistent with the neighborhood's character, which features a mix of residential uses on varying lot sizes interspersed with civic uses.

4) THE USE WILL NOT SIGNIFICANTLY INJURE THE VALUE OF ADJACENT PROPERTY OR BY NOISE, LIGHTS, FUMES, ODORS, VIBRATION, TRAFFIC, CONGESTION, OR OTHER IMPACTS DETRACT FROM THE IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT.
A. Two-family dwellings are considered low-density residential uses and are compatible with other residential uses in the neighborhood.

5) THE USE IS NOT OF A NATURE OR SO LOCATED AS TO DRAW SUBSTANTIAL ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC THROUGH RESIDENTIAL STREETS.
A. The subject property has direct access to Whittle Springs Road, a minor arterial. As such, the proposed use is not expected to impact traffic or draw additional through-traffic significantly.

6) THE NATURE OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE SURROUNDING AREA IS NOT SUCH AS TO POSE A POTENTIAL HAZARD TO THE PROPOSED USE OR TO CREATE AN UNDESIRABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE PROPOSED USE.
A. There are no known uses immediately surrounding the subject property that would pose a potential hazard or create an undesirable environment for the proposed use. The subject property is in a primarily residential area near Whittle Springs Middle School, Whittle Springs Golf Course, and the N Broadway commercial corridor.