Disposition Summary

Approve the RA (Low Density Residential) zone because it is consistent with the Knox County Comprehensive Plan and surrounding development.

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Staff Recommendation

Approve the RA (Low Density Residential) zone because it is consistent with the Knox County 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 ZONES AFFECTED, OR IN THE COUNTY GENERALLY.
1. Development trends in the area have been residential in nature, consisting of single family subdivisions. There is commercial development along Middlebrook Pike to the south.
2. The property is surrounded by single family subdivisions mostly zoned RA (Low Density Residential) that were developed during the 1970s. The residential density within a one mile radius has sporadically increased since the 1970s, with rezonings from A (Agricultural) to RA, RB (General Residential), and PR (Planned Residential) with densities ranging from 2.5 du/ac to 12 du/ac.
3. The applicant requested to rezone the property to RA in 2023 (7-F-23-RZ), which was approved by the Planning Commission. However, the request was denied at the County Commission meeting when the applicant was not present.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENT AND PURPOSES OF THE APPLICABLE ZONING ORDINANCE.
1. The RA zone is intended to provide for areas with low population densities. It is compatible with the surrounding residential zoning, which includes properties zoned RA, A, and PR up to 2.5 and 3 du/ac.
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 RA zone primarily allows residential and civic uses, which aligns with the existing residential character of the area.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT SHALL NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT ANY OTHER PART OF THE COUNTY NOR SHALL ANY DIRECT OR INDIRECT ADVERSE EFFECTS RESULT FROM SUCH AN AMENDMENT.
1. The RA zone is a low-density residential zone that allows single family houses by right and duplexes with Use on Review approval by the Planning Commission. These uses are consistent with the existing residential character.
2. The traffic on Chert Pit Road, a major collector, and Jenkins Road, a minor collector, would be minimally affected by a development of this size, and traffic would not be routed through Westop Trail or other nearby side streets.
3. The subject property is within the Hillside Protection area and has some areas with 15-25% slopes, and there are slopes over 25% near the perimeter that likely resulted from grading and road construction (Exhibit B). All proposed developments must comply with the Knox County Stormwater Management Ordinance.

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 property is within the SR (Suburban Residential) place type, which lists the RA zone as directly related. The housing mix of the SR place type calls for single family houses on lots smaller than one acre and attached residential houses such as duplexes, both of which are permitted in the RA zone.
2. The recommended rezoning complies with the Comprehensive Plan's Implementation Policy 2, to ensure that new development is sensitive to existing community character. The lot sizes and allowable uses in the RA zone are consistent with the character of the surrounding area.
3. The subject property is within the Planned Growth Area of the Growth Policy Plan, which encourages a reasonably compact development pattern. The allowable lot sizes and housing types of the RA zone support the intent of the Planned Growth Area.