To be heard July 10, 2025Agenda Item No. 22

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Staff Recommendation

Deny the MU-SD, MU-CC 16 (Fort Sanders Neighborhood) Mixed-Used Special District because it does not meet the criteria for a plan amendment.

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PURSUANT TO THE CITY OF KNOXVILLE ONE YEAR PLAN, CHAPTER 1, PLAN AMENDMENT, ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA MUST BE MET FOR ALL ONE YEAR PLAN AMENDMENTS (may meet any of these):

AN ERROR IN THE PLAN.
1. The current MU-SD, MU-CC 17 (Fort Sanders Neighborhood) designation is consistent with the development along Forest Avenue and is not a result of an error in the plan.

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. Since 2009, there has been a significant increase in residential construction in the Fort Sanders Neighborhood. Larger multi-family complexes have been constructed along Grand Avenue and around the outer periphery of the neighborhood, whereas interior development has consisted of townhouses, small- and medium-scale multi-family dwellings, and office and small-scale commercial uses.
2. The current MU-CC 17 land use designation already supports medium-and high-density residential development, and a mix of less intensive uses, which aligns with these development trends. As such, a plan amendment is not warranted.
3. Changing the land use classification at this site would bisect the MU-CC17 special district, which could disrupt the established development pattern and transition in land use intensity along Forest Avenue.

A CHANGE IN PUBLIC POLICY, UNANTICIPATED BY THE PLAN.
1. There are no known changes in public policy pertaining to this area that warrants an amendment to the One Year Plan.

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 reveal the need for an amendment to the One Year Plan at this location.