Disposition Summary

Approve the request to expand a place of worship with an approximate 6,300 sqft structure, subject to 2 conditions.

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Staff Recommendation

Approve the request to expand a place of worship with an approximate 6,300 sqft structure, subject to 2 conditions.

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1) Meeting all applicable requirements of the City of Knoxville Zoning Ordinance, including but not limited to Article 10.3.T. (Mechanical Equipment), Article 11 (Off-Street Parking), and Article (Landscape).
2) Meeting all applicable requirements of the City of Knoxville Engineering Department, including but not limited to platting the property to consolidate the lots.

With the conditions noted above, this request meets the criteria for approval of a special use for a place of worship in the RN-1 zoning district.

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This request is to expand the existing church with a 6,300 sqft worship center and provide 20 additional parking spaces. The total floor area of the church will be approximately 11,466 sqft. The new building is proposed between the existing buildings and Cedar Lane, and the additional parking is to the rear of the lot. The City of Knoxville Board of Zoning Appeals approved a reduction of the front setback to 60'-1" on the Cedar Lane frontage.

When a nonresidential use is located within a residential district, a class "A" buffer yard is required between the use and abutting properties. Parking lot landscaping may be required per Article 11.1.B. (Required Parking for Previously Developed Property). The plan proposes perimeter landscaping between Pine Crest Road and the existing and expanded parking lot. Existing trees can be credited toward the landscaping standards per Article 12.9 (Tree Preservation).

STANDARDS FOR EVALUATING A SPECIAL USE (ARTICLE 16.2.F.2)

1) THE USE IS CONSISTENT WITH ADOPTED PLANS AND POLICIES, INCLUDING THE GENERAL PLAN AND THE ONE-YEAR PLAN.
A. The proposed expansion of a place of worship at the edge of the Oakmont subdivision and the Inskip community is consistent with the General Plan's development policy 4.6 to support the development of neighborhood and community organizations.
B. The Church of the Savior property is consistent with the One Year Plan's location criteria for churches, in that it is located in close proximity to major residential areas and affords safe and convenient access to both local and through traffic.
C. The land use classification for this property in both the One Year Plan and the North City Sector Plan is CI (Civic/Institutional), which is intended for public and quasi-public institutions such as churches.

2) THE USE IS IN HARMONY WITH THE GENERAL PURPOSE AND INTENT OF THIS ZONING CODE.
A. The subject property's zoning district is RN-1 (Single-Family Residential Neighborhood), which permits limited nonresidential uses that are compatible with the character of the neighborhood. A church has existed on this site since at least the 1960s.
B. The church expansion provides a total of 328 seats for members. The off-street parking requirement is a minimum of .25 spaces and a maximum of .5 spaces per seat in the main assembly. The 84 spaces proposed are within those thresholds.

3) THE USE IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE IT IS PROPOSED, AND WITH THE SIZE AND LOCATION OF BUILDINGS IN THE VICINITY.
A. The proposed 6,400 sf building addition is consistent in height and aesthetics with the main building.
B. The property's location between a single-family residential neighborhood and multifamily uses across Cedar Lane provides a compatible buffer between land use intensities.

4) THE USE WILL NOT SIGNIFICANTLY INJURE THE VALUE OF ADJACENT PROPERTY OR BY NOISE, LIGHTS, FUMES, ODORS, VIBRATION, TRAFFIC, CONGESTION, OR OTHER IMPACTS DETRACT FROM THE IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT.
A. The new building and additional parking are not anticipated to have a negative impact on adjacent properties.

5) THE USE IS NOT OF A NATURE OR SO LOCATED AS TO DRAW SUBSTANTIAL ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC THROUGH RESIDENTIAL STREETS.
A. The 84 parking spaces proposed are far below the 164-space maximum permitted.
B. Vehicular access to the property is from Pine Crest Road, a local street, and is not anticipated to cause an undue burden on neighboring residents during Sunday church service since the property is at the corner of Cedar Lane, a minor arterial.

6) THE NATURE OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE SURROUNDING AREA IS NOT SUCH AS TO POSE A POTENTIAL HAZARD TO THE PROPOSED USE OR TO CREATE AN UNDESIRABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE PROPOSED USE.
A. There are no aspects of the property that present an apparent hazard to the expansion of the existing place of worship.