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Staff Recommendation

Deny the RC (Rural Conservation) place type because there has not been a substantial change in conditions. The HP (Hillside Protection Area) would be retained.

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PURSUANT TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, CHAPTER 3 IMPLEMENTATION, A PLAN AMENDMENT MAY BE APPROPRIATE IF THERE IS AN OBVIOUS OR SIGNIFICANT ERROR OR OMISSION IN THE PLAN, OR IF TWO OR MORE OF THE OTHER CRITERIA APPLY.

OBVIOUS OR SIGNIFICANT ERROR OR OMISSION IN THE PLAN:
1. The RL (Rural Living) place type on this property is not the result of an error or omission in the plan. The RL place type is intended for areas primarily made up of single family residential within a rural setting. These areas may include agriculture, open space, and some limited commercial uses that support agriculture and civic uses. The subject property is situated on a section of Fort Sumter Road that transitions from traditional suburban-style development to a more rural character, with large lots featuring single-family dwellings and agricultural uses.

IF THERE ARE NO ERRORS OR OMISSIONS, TWO OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA MUST BE MET:

CHANGES OF CONDITIONS (SUCH AS SURROUNDING LAND USES, ZONING, UNCONTROLLED NATURAL FORCES/DISASTERS, ETC.):
1. There has not been a substantial change in conditions in the surrounding area that would warrant a plan amendment at this site. Development in the area has remained stable, consisting of agricultural uses and the sporadic construction of a few single-family dwellings on large lots.
2. There has been one rezoning request approved within 0.75 miles of the subject property since the Comprehensive Plan was adopted (1-F-26-RZ). This request was for a 1.06-acre property from the A (Agricultural) zone to the RA (Low Density Residential) zone and was aligned with the designated place type.
3. This property is located within a consistent block of the RL place type, so the RC place type would break up this pattern and form an anomaly.

INTRODUCTION OF SIGNIFICANT NEW UTILITIES OR LOCAL/STATE/FEDERAL ROAD PROJECTS THAT WERE NOT ANTICIPATED IN THE PLAN AND MAKE DEVELOPMENT MORE FEASIBLE:
1. There has not been an introduction of new utilities or road improvements in the area that would make development more feasible.

NEW DATA REGARDING TRENDS OR PROJECTIONS, POPULATION, HOUSING CONDITIONS, OR TRAFFIC GROWTH THAT WARRANT RECONSIDERATION OF THE ORIGINAL PLAN:
1. There is no new data specific to this request that warrants a plan amendment to the RC place type.

THE PROPOSED CHANGES SUPPORT THE POLICIES AND ACTIONS, GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND CRITERIA OF THE PLAN:
1. The proposed plan amendment is not consistent with the Comprehensive Plan's Implementation Policy 2: Ensure that development is sensitive to existing community character. The RC (Rural Conservation) place type allows consideration of residential zoning with densities that do not align with the rural character of the area, such as PR (Planned Residential) with up to 5 du/ac.
2. The Knox County Comprehensive Plan was created in tandem with the update to the Growth Policy Plan, and place types were located intentionally to be in accordance with the Growth Policy Plan. The requested density of 3 du/ac is not supported by the intent of the Comprehensive Plan to be in alignment with the Growth Policy Plan.