To be heard June 11, 2026Agenda Item No. 24

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Staff Recommendation

Approve the Development Plan for up to 144 dwelling units, subject to 8 conditions.

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1. Installing all landscaping as shown on the landscape plan.
2. The maximum height of the attached dwellings shall be 35 feet and the apartments' shall be 45 ft.
3. Implementing reforestation of graded slopes as shown on the plan for a land disturbance of 0.98 acres within the Hillside Protection area. The Knox County Department of Engineering and Public Works will review and approve the timing for the tree planting installation during the design plan phase.
4. If during design plan approval or construction of the development, it is discovered that unforeseen off-site improvements within the right-of-way are necessary as caused by the development, the developer will either enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the County for these improvements or reimburse the County for their direct expenses (if completed by County crews) to make corrections deemed necessary.
5. Entering into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Knox County Engineering and Public Works for completing other off-site improvements per Chapter 54, Article V of the Knox County Code (Ord. O-23-4-102). The cost of these improvements is the responsibility of the property owner.
6. Meeting all applicable requirements of the Knox County Zoning Ordinance.
7. Meeting all applicable requirements of the Knox County Department of Engineering and Public Works.
8. Implementing the recommendations of the Serenity at Everett Road Traffic Impact Study (Ardurra, 4/24/2026) as required by Knox County Engineering and Public Works during the design plan phase. If the TIA is further revised, it must be submitted to the Planning staff for review and approval by all applicable agencies.

With the conditions noted, this plan meets the requirements for approval in the PR zone and the criteria for approval of a development plan.

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This proposal is for 120 apartment units and 24 townhomes at Everett Road and Yarnell Road. The development amenities include a clubhouse, swimming pool, picnic area, and dog park with a walking trail around the property.

A similar site plan was approved in 2019 (10-C-19-UR) before the recent rezoning to PR with up to 10 du/ac. This proposal features apartment buildings of the same size and configuration as the original plans, but adds two additional apartment buildings (Buildings 3 and 8 on the plans) and features townhouses at the rear of the property instead of garages and a car wash.

The property is zoned PR (Planned Residential) with a density of up to 10 du/ac, subject to 2 conditions:
1) If any proposed development exceeds 750 daily trips, a traffic impact study must be provided to identify potential issues, including impacts to the intersection of Everett Road and Yarnell Road. The traffic impact study must be included with the submission of the development plan application.
2) Must enter into a memorandum or understanding (MOU) with Knox County Engineering & Public Works to address improvements commensurate with the addition of traffic/delay to maintain a good level of service and address any safety issues, as identified by the traffic study.
The traffic study's primary recommendation is to convert the intersection of Everett Road at Yarnell Road from side-street stop control to a single-lane roundabout. The applicant will partner with the County to complete the work.

DEVELOPMENT PLAN ANALYSIS PER ARTICLE 6, SECTION 6.50.06 (APPROVAL OR DENIAL)
In the exercise of its administrative judgment, the Planning Commission shall determine if the proposed plan is in harmony with the general purpose and intent of the zoning ordinance and adopted plans.

1) ZONING ORDINANCE
A. The property is zoned PR (Planned Residential) with a density of up to 10 du/ac. The property has been surveyed and includes 14.446 acres, which would allow up to 144 dwelling units. The applicant is proposing 144 dwelling units.
B. The PR zone allows townhomes and apartments as a permitted use. The administrative procedures for the PR zone require the Planning Commission to approve the development plan before permits can be issued (Knox County Zoning Ordinance Article 5, Section 5.13.15).
C. The PR zone establishes a maximum height for single family houses, but all other uses have a maximum height established by the Planning Commission. Staff recommends a maximum height of 35 ft for the townhomes and 45 ft for the apartment buildings, consistent with the other residential houses and apartments in the general area.

2) KNOX COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN - FUTURE LAND USE MAP
A. The property's place type is SR (Suburban Residential) and is within the Hillside Protection area on the Future Land Use Map. SR calls for a range of housing size and styles, including some small-scale attached dwellings. The recommended disturbance within the HP area is 0.96 acres. The applicant is disturbing closer to 2.16 acres and will reforest around Buildings 9 and 10.

3) KNOX COMPREHENSIVE PLAN - IMPLEMENTATION POLICIES
A. The multifamily development is consistent with Implementation Policy 5, to create neighborhoods with a variety of housing types and amenities in close proximity.
B. The landscaping along the entry road is consistent with Implementation Policy 2, to ensure that development is sensitive to the existing community character. Because the site is forested and the plan shows grading up to the property line, landscaping is provided around the perimeter of the property.

4) KNOXVILLE - FARRAGUT - KNOX COUNTY GROWTH POLICY PLAN
A. The property is within the Planned Growth Area. The purposes of the Planned Growth Area designation are to encourage a reasonably compact pattern of development, promote the expansion of the Knox County economy, offer a wide range of housing choices, and coordinate the actions of the public and private sectors, particularly with regard to the provision of adequate roads, utilities, schools, drainage and other public facilities and services. This development is in alignment with these goals.