Disposition Summary

Approve the RA (Rural Agriculture) place type due to an omission in the Knox County Comprehensive Plan.

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Staff Recommendation

Approve the RA (Rural Agriculture) place type due to an omission in the Knox County Comprehensive Plan.

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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 OMISSION IN THE PLAN:
1. The surrounding area has a rural character primarily consisting of residential and agricultural uses. The RL (Rural Living) place type is intended for areas primarily made up of single-family residential development within a rural setting. These areas may include agriculture, open space, and some limited commercial uses that support agricultural and civic uses. The current RL place type designation reflects the rural character of the surrounding area, and it is not the result of an error in the Comprehensive Plan.
2. However, the permitted zones in the RL place type emphasize larger residential lot sizes, as the smallest residential lot size that can be considered for a rezoning in the RL place type is half an acre under the PR (Planned Residential) zone with up to 2 du/ac. The subject property is approximately 17,043 sq ft, which is smaller than most properties often found in rural areas.
3. The requested RA (Rural Agriculture) place type is appropriate for areas intended for crop production, livestock raising, forestry uses and processes, agricultural service businesses, and supporting residences. Typically, large lots are located in rural areas, but small lots may also be found. The subject property meets the description of the RA place type, as it neighbors the Knoxville Livestock Center and is near various large-lot farms. The RA place type also considers smaller rural lots, whereas the RL place type emphasizes larger lots. Because of this, the plan amendment is appropriate to consider here due to an omission in the Comprehensive Plan regarding the existing smaller lot in a rural area.