Disposition Summary

Deny the One Year Plan amendment to the GC (General Commercial) land use classification because it is not compatible with surrounding land use and infrastructure.

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Staff Recommendation

Deny the One Year Plan amendment to the GC (General Commercial) land use classification because it is not compatible with surrounding land use and infrastructure.

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ONE YEAR PLAN AMENDMENT REQUIREMENTS (May meet any one of these):

CHANGES OF CONDITIONS WARRANTING AMENDMENT OF THE LAND USE PLAN:
1. There have not been significant changes in this area for several decades. The physical commercial environment in the vicinity has remained static or become vacant, which does not point to a need for expansion of commercial land use to the subjecty property.

AN ERROR IN THE PLAN:
1. The One Year Plan's LDR (Low Density Residential) classification is consistent among surrounding properties south of Chapman Highway. An amendnent to the GC (General Commercial) designation would be out of alignment with the existing land use of adjacent parcels.

A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE DEVELOPMENT PATTERN, OR THE COMPLETION OF A PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT (ROAD, PARK, SEWER), WHICH CHANGES THE BASIS ON WHICH THE PLAN WAS DEVELOPED FOR AN AREA:
1. There were several improvements to Chapman Highway that were recommended in a corridor study to address safety issues for turning traffic. To date, these recommendations have not been implemented. The subject property is located at a significant bend in the highway, and commercial land use would likely increase the frequency of turning traffic. This potential imapct on traffic at this location is not supported by the current state of the roadway.

A CHANGE IN PUBLIC POLICY, UNANTICIPATED BY THE PLAN:
1. There have been no public policy changes pertaining to this request for commercial land uses.

NEW INFORMATION (INCLUDING NEW PLANS AND STUDIES PRODUCED BY KNOXVILLE-KNOX COUNTY PLANNING) BECOMING AVAILABLE, WHICH REVEALS THE NEED FOR A PLAN AMENDMENT:
1. There are no new plans or studies that support a more intensive land use amendment at this location.

OTHER COMMMENTS:
1. The One Year Plan describes six standards for the GC classification. They include an emphasis on how such uses should not hinder the proper functioning of the transportation system and a recommendations that a transitional land use class, such as MDR/O (Medium Density Residential/ Office) or O (Office), be used as a buffer between GC and low density residential uses. The plan also describes how commercial sites should be relatively flat, regular in shape and of sufficient size. These standards are not met by the subject property's location, size, shape and slopes.