Disposition Summary

Approve the One Year Plan amendment to the MDR/O (Medium Density Residential/ Office) land use classification because it allows more flexibility while maintaining an appropriate transition of land use intensity. The HP (Hillside Protection) will be retained.

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Staff Recommendation

Approve the One Year Plan amendment to the MDR/O (Medium Density Residential/ Office) land use classification because it allows more flexibility while maintaining an appropriate transition of land use intensity. The HP (Hillside Protection) will be retained.

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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. The subject property is located in between a former high school campus with a CI (Civic Institutional) land use classification to the west, and the Western Heights multifamily community - classified as MDR (Medium Density Residential) - to the east.
2. Rule High School was closed in 1991 and demolition on the building began this year. There is a Knox County Schools grounds maintenance warehouse and training facility that continues to operate on the northeast side of the insitutional campus.
3. The proposed MDR/O (Medium Density Residential/Office) land use classification on the subject property provides an appropriate transition of land use intensity between the Western Heights residential community and the types of public and quasi-public uses that are considered within the CI designation.
4. The subject property is part of the Western Heights campus, which includes community open space amenities as well as a Boys and Girls Club. The property has sidewalks on Vermont Avenue and Maryland Avenue, and it is walking distance from several bus stops. These conditions support consideration of MDR/O at this location.

AN ERROR IN THE PLAN:
1. The current MDR land use classification on the subject parcel is not the result of an error, but the property also meets many of the location criteria for MDR/O. Such criteria include being near community activity nodes and being in an area on or near corridors served by transit and sidewalks.

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 was a significant change in the development pattern of this area when 248 affordable units were demolished in 2011. The proposed land use amendment would expand the range of zoning districts that can be considered for residential infill.
2. Other public improvements are planned to occur as part of the ongoing Western Heights Transformation Plan, developed by KCDC in 2021 with federal funding and City and community support.

A CHANGE IN PUBLIC POLICY, UNANTICIPATED BY THE PLAN:
1. There are not specific changes in public policy pertaining to the proposed MDR/O classification.

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 is no new information or studies specific to the MDR/O land use, but it is noteworthy that the subject parcel comprises the first phase of the Western Heights Transformation implementation plan to develop new affordable housing and community benefits.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:
1. The MDR/O land use classification cites the same location critieria and allows the same zones as the MDR land use class, but expands upon the MDR class by allowing a wider range of residential zones (from RN-3 to RN-6) and the O (Office zone).