Disposition Summary

Approve the RA (Low Density Residential) zone because it is consistent with the Knox County Comprehensive Plan. The F (Floodway) would be retained.

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Staff Recommendation

Approve the RA (Low Density Residential) zone because it is consistent 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 is gradually shifting from agricultural to low-density residential uses. In the past three years, three development requests within .34 miles of the subject property have been approved to rezone from A (Agricultural) to RA (Low Density Residential).
2. In 2021, a rezoning from A (Agricultural) to RA (Low-Density Residential) was approved adjacent to the subject property on the south side (9-F-21-RZ).
3. In 2023, a 91-unit subdivision was built 528 feet north of the subject property.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENT AND PURPOSES OF THE APPLICABLE ZONING ORDINANCE.
1. The RA zone is intended to provide for residential areas with low population densities. The subject property is surrounded by low-density residential properties and neighborhoods and is a suitable location for the RA zone.
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 mainly residential in character.
2. The minimum lot area in the RA zone is 10,000 sq ft for single-family houses. Based on the minimum lot area alone, the subject property could yield 35 lots.

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 subject property's place type is SR (Suburban Residential) in the Knox County Comprehensive Plan. The RA zone is listed as directly related to the SR place type. The land use mix of the SR place type recommends residential, single-family development as the primary use, with attached residential development and civic uses as secondary.
2. The rezoning complies with the Comprehensive Plan's Implementation Policy 2 to ensure new development is sensitive to existing community character. The allowable uses in the RA zone align with the surrounding area's character.
3. The subject property is located within the Planned Growth Area of the Growth Policy Plan, which aims to encourage a reasonably compact pattern of development. The lot size requirements of the RA zone support the intent of the Planned Growth Area.