Disposition Summary

Approve the RA (Low Density Residential) zone because it is consistent with the surrounding development and in compliance with the Knox County Comprehensive Plan.

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Staff Recommendation

Approve the RA (Low Density Residential) zone because it is consistent with the surrounding development and in compliance with the Knox County Comprehensive Plan.

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PURSUANT TO THE KNOX COUNTY ZONING ORDINANCE, ARTICLE 6.30.01, THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS MUST BE MET FOR ALL REZONINGS (must meet all of these):

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT SHALL BE NECESSARY BECAUSE OF SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGED OR CHANGING CONDITIONS IN THE AREA AND ZONES AFFECTED, OR IN THE COUNTY GENERALLY.
1. The surrounding area has steadily transitioned from agricultural to residential and commercial uses since the early 1990s, with commercial development concentrated along Alcoa Highway.
2. In 2014, a rezoning from (A-1) General Agricultural zoning district to R-1 (Low Density Residential) zoning district was approved 50 ft south of the subject property (3-A-14-RZ), and there are 3 additional properties zoned RN-1 nearby to the east on Ginn Farm Drive. Together, these properties create a precedent for the RN-1 zone in this area. The R-1 district was redesignated as RN-1 (Single-Family Residential Neighborhood) with the adoption of the City of Knoxville's new zoning ordinance.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENT AND PURPOSES OF THE APPLICABLE ZONING ORDINANCE.
1. The RA (Low Density Residential) zone is intended to provide for residential areas with low population densities.
2. Rezonings should be based on the entire range of uses allowed within a zone to ensure that any development brought forth at a future time would be compatible with the surrounding land uses.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT SHALL NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT ANY OTHER PART OF THE COUNTY NOR SHALL ANY DIRECT OR INDIRECT ADVERSE EFFECTS RESULT FROM SUCH AN AMENDMENT.
1. The RA zone is considered a low-density residential zone. As such, it is not anticipated to negatively impact the surrounding area, which is largely residential in character with recreational amenities and farm land nearby.
2. The minimum lot area in the RA zone is 10,000 sq ft for single-family houses and 12,000 sq ft for duplexes. Based on minimum lot area alone, the subject property could yield 6-7 lots. The configuration of the property would make it difficult to build at maximum capacity, however.
3. Ginn Farm Drive is a 14-ft unstriped, narrow city street that may require road improvements. The need for road improvements will be determined during the permitting phase.
4. The southwest and northeast corners of the subject property fall within the HP (Hillside Protection) area, but the overall site is sloped less than 15%, which is relatively flat.

PROPOSED AMENDMENT SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH AND NOT IN CONFLICT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF KNOX COUNTY, INCLUDING ANY OF ITS ELEMENTS, MAJOR ROAD PLAN, LAND USE PLAN, COMMUNITY FACILITIES PLAN, AND OTHERS:
1. The place type for the subject property is SR (Suburban Residential) in the Knox County Comprehensive Plan. The RA zone is listed as being directly related to the SR place type.
2. The rezoning complies with the Comprehensive Plan's Implementation Policy 2, to ensure that new development is sensitive to existing community character. The permitted uses in the RA zone align with the character of the surrounding area.
3. The subject property is located within the Knoxville Urban Growth Boundary of the Growth Policy Plan, which aims to encourage a reasonably compact pattern of development. The allowable lot sizes in the RA zone support the objectives of the Urban Growth Boundary.