I hope you are doing well. I am writing in concer over the expansion of Vulcan. I live in Hickory Meadows subdivision and my home between purchase price and improvements is pushing 500,000.00 in investment. There are roughly 100 houses in this subdivision alone. That is potential of 50,000,000.00 in economic damage just to home owners, which no one can afford. Add in the reduction of property tax revenue and other financial damages. It will reduce/destroy air quality, my house is a year old and is caked with dust. Can't imagine how much worse it will get. Silica is lung damaging, causing a host of severe medical issues from lung cancer to COPD. Simply put, Knox County has grown to much to keep a health and property risk such as Vulcan running much less allowing them to expand. Farragut and Hardin Valley are two of the most affluent parts of Knox County. Significant invest from the state, county, businesses and home owners will be eliminated by the destruction this will cause to our communities. We beg this not be permitted to proceed. Thank you.
How is this new project going to affect our utilities. We are currently at a high-water pressure in order to supply homes down the line. Every day we have 3 or 4 severe water pressure drop offs during high usage times. (solution is larger water supply line down Crippen). We currently have minor road flooding in a couple of areas during heavy or prolonged rains. Plus, extreme flooding in the greenway after prolonged rains. When you open up the forestry area where is all the water to go. Since Oaks Springs Villas sits at a lower elevation, we will suffer the effects which will not be good. The 3DU/AC zoning they are requesting seems to be a direct conflict with current drainage issues of our area. (They should be restricted to 2DU/AC. This would allow yards to retain some of the runoff water). Currently traffic is already bad at rush hour. On several occasions I have had to wait 3 lights to get through the light on Crippen. Adding another 16,200+ car each month will really make a mess out of traffic and is already bumper to bumper all the way up Maynardville pike to the top of the hill.
7-B-26-UR Steven (37932), June 15, 2026 at 10:45 PM
I live in the Hickory Meadows neighborhood here in Hardin Valley. I have a lot of concerns to voice regarding the newly proposed Vulcan expansion. This expansion would back up straight to my property. First, the whole neighborhood can already feel the physical effects of blasting from Vulcans current location and moving closer to our properties would be disastrous for the structural integrity of our homes. Next, I also worry of the health concerns from the effects of RCS (Respirable Crystalline Sylica) for my wife, son, and myself. Like many other young families in the neighborhood, we are first time home owners. We bought this house looking to start our lives and build equity. This expansion would ultimately ruin everything and completely put our family in financial purgatory. My final question/thought is, we were never made aware of this expansion being a possibility. If it was always an option and a strong possibility at that, why was zoning ever approved in the first place for our neighborhood? It makes our family feel betrayed. At the end of the day, the only clear outcomes that can save the families in this neighborhood from financial ruin would be for either Vulcan, Knox County, or another entity to buy our homes or the expansion to be declined. Would love to hear feedback and what actions can be taken here.
7-O-26-RZ Robert (37918), June 16, 2026 at 9:48 AM
As a resident of Oak Spring Villas in Halls, I am writing to express my strong opposition to rezoning case 7-O-26-RZ regarding the 18-acre parcel at 4628 Crippen Road. The property is designated as both Rural Conservation (RC) and Hillside Ridgetop Protection (HP). Given the environmental sensitivity and the steep slopes associated with an HP designation, I urge the planning committee to carefully weigh these factors against the proposed PR zoning of 3 du/ac. Furthermore, I have serious concerns regarding the impact on local infrastructure. Crippen Road is a minor collector with a pavement width of only 18-20 feet. Adding upwards of 50 homes would generate hundreds of additional daily vehicle trips, significantly compromising safety at the already hazardous intersection of our subdivision entrance. We expect a comprehensive traffic study to be conducted to fully evaluate the potential impact of this development.
7-O-26-RZ George (37918), June 17, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Greetings, I have several concerns and they are: - Safety concerns on Crippen Road given the potential for increased flow. This road is already heavily traveled and is not designed for the current flow of traffic. - Fire Hydrant Lines; does the existing infrastructure have adequately to handle an increase of services - Potable Water Lines; Same infrastructure concerns as mentioned immediately above. - Damaging storm water runoff and potential damage to the Halls Marsh Area - Safety concerns for traffic due to the close proximity of several entrances and egresses onto Crippen Road ( hidden drives due to existing road and terrain conditions ). - School bus ( School Children ) safety given the item immediately above. - Speeding along Crippen Road; unchecked speeding on this road. Crippen is utilized as short cut between Hiskel / Gibbs and Knoxville ( bypassing Halls Cross Roads Intersection ) These are the opportunities that come to my mind. I'm sure that other concerned citizens will provide others that are equally pressing and concerning. Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback into the process. V/r, GJ D.
7-B-26-UR Daniel (37932), June 29, 2026 at 11:47 AM
My family was among the first five families to purchase a home in the Hickory Meadows subdivision. Like many of our neighbors, we are first-time homeowners who invested our savings with the expectation of providing a safe and healthy environment for our family. At no point during the home-buying process were we informed that Vulcan's operations had expanded as far as we now know, nor were we made aware of the potential physical and financial hardships that this expansion could impose on nearby residents. Our family's concerns are deeply personal. Four members of our household have been diagnosed with asthma, and one has been diagnosed with subglottic stenosis. Had we been provided with complete and transparent information regarding the proximity and potential impacts of this development, we would never have chosen to place our family in this situation. We work hard to provide for our family, and we believe no family should have to choose between the home they worked so hard to purchase and their health and well-being. We respectfully urge you to reconsider this expansion. If that is not possible, we ask that you consider offering to purchase our property so that our family can relocate to a safer environment. No one deserves to have their health, financial security, and quality of life placed at risk due to circumstances they were never fully informed about.
7-H-26-DP Linda (37920), June 30, 2026 at 11:55 AM
There is no detention basin/pond or stormwater control shown on the concept plan. All the water from 15 driveways and 15 houses are at a higher elevation than the property at 1508 Tipton Station Road, and this will create a major and substantial increase in water flow that will flow downhill onto 1508 Tipton Station Road. While a 15 inch culvert crosses Sayne Lane, onto 1508 Tipton Station Road, the natural water flow is normal and has been greatly limited by the forest that exists at 0 Tipton Station, wherein once the forest is cleared, and thousands of square feet of newly installed impervious surface cause runoff, the impact of uncontrolled storm water will be substantial. There is also runoff from the road widening project that will increase the existing runoff. Finally, stormwater credit has been afforded to the open space. However, the open space is at an elevation of 910, 900, and 890, which is a higher elevation than all the 15 lots as well as the elevation of the parcel located at 1508 Tipton Station. While the open space is undisturbed, there is still runoff from this open space and it will run to its lowest point creating a substantial increase in stormwater runoff. This concept plan should be denied unless proper stormwater management is included.
Closing Graybeal Road permanently removes an existing public road from the county transportation network. The study evaluates only current traffic, not long-term residential growth. The study evaluates only selected intersections rather than the entire affected road network.
Water quality monitoring should occur before expansion. Existing wells deserve baseline testing. Future groundwater contamination could be difficult to reverse. The public deserves long-term monitoring commitments.
The traffic study measures only vehicle delay, not overall public safety. The report does not analyze emergency vehicle response times. The report ignores the loss of alternate evacuation routes. School bus routing impacts are not evaluated. Bicycle traffic was not studied. Pedestrian access was not studied. No independent traffic study has been presented.
7-B-26-UR Crystal (37932), July 6, 2026 at 7:34 AM
Public roads belong to the public, not private corporations. Permanent road closures should occur only when clearly necessary. The application does not demonstrate why Graybeal Road must be closed. Closing this road reduces future transportation flexibility. The county should not surrender public infrastructure for private industrial expansion. Road closures create permanent consequences long after mining ends.
Noise increases as operations move closer. Backup alarms affect nearby neighborhoods. Heavy equipment noise should be modeled. Early morning operations affect residents. Evening operations reduce neighborhood enjoyment. Construction noise differs from operational noise.
Blasting will occur closer to homes than before. Residents deserve independent blasting impact analysis. Geological conditions vary across every quarry. Existing compliance does not guarantee future impacts. Ground vibration increases concern as mining approaches residences. Air overpressure impacts deserve independent review.
7-B-26-UR Jessica (37932), July 8, 2026 at 3:16 PM
Future residents cannot recover a road once abandoned. The public investment in Graybeal Road should not be discarded lightly. Alternative alignments have not been explored. Maintaining public connectivity should remain a county priority.
7-B-26-UR Annette (37932), July 8, 2026 at 3:26 PM
Valid complaints have been posted about the Vulcan expansion. If it is approved, I'd like to see some conditions. Vulcan protected Hickory Creek & the wetlands South of Graybeal in the 2009 expansion. I request the spring, blueline stream, & wetlands on the North side of Graybeal be unaltered and protected. The existing berm on the South side of Graybeal is 50-55 feet tall. I request the new berm along Hickory Meadows Subdivision, and our farm which borders two sides of the expansion be 50-55 feet as well. Taller berms offer protection from falling rock and suppress noise and air vibration. It also acts as a windbreak for fugitive dust. Photo documentation has shown large amounts of dust escaping Vulcan currently. You can imagine the amount that will escape a 20 foot berm. I request Hickory Meadows Subdivision, our house, and our well be structurally evaluated and any subsequent damage be repaired at Vulcans expense. I appreciate that Vulcan has been meeting with its neighbors to find ways to mitigate the unpleasant aspects of a quarry expansion.
Dust accumulates on homes and vehicles. Dust affects gardening and landscaping. Dust affects nearby streams. Dust complaints should be anticipated before expansion.
7-O-26-RZ Matthew (37918), July 8, 2026 at 9:49 PM
I have serious concerns with the planned development at 4628 Crippen Road. I believe extensive research is needed regarding the expected water runoff from the proposed development. The Halls Marsh/Beaver Creek will flood from an average rainfall event and it should be noted that the rainfall from 6/27 and 6/28 resulted in standing water on the greenway at a height of 3'-4'. Photos were collected on 7/2. The area simply cannot handle any additional watershed and development of 20 acres would result in significant damage to the Halls Marsh and park. Additionally, Crippen Road is in a constant state of disrepair. Added private and commercial traffic will eventually force Knox County to address the roadway which has been neglected. Safety is also a concern as the road is routinely traveled 10-15 mph over the posted speed limit. I also suspect that this property will eventually fall into the Gibbs schools as the zone line has moved further south on Crippen over the last 15 years.
Public roads belong to the public, not private corporations, regardless of the fact a corporation owns land on either side of the roadway. Permanent road closures should occur only when clearly necessary. The application does not demonstrate why Graybeal Road must be closed. Closing this road reduces future transportation flexibility, to include that of emergency vehicles. The county should not surrender public and publicly funded infrastructure for private industrial expansion. This road closure will create permanent negative consequences long after mining ends.
Our property at 1520 Grayville Rd. 37932 consist of approximately 4500 ft. brick home built in 2003 on 4 acres. Over this time. The blasting done by bulking has damaged our tile more than once and cracked our drywall, the blaster felt tremendously now Before this proposal. Based on county taxes, our home is worth 1,475,000 which means the market value would be at least 2 million due to the fact that we are in the hotspot of Hardin Valley schools and academy if this expansion is past the value of our property will diminish drastically when I asked the representatives of Vulcan if they were to be purchasing a home with they buy a home in these conditions none of the representatives could give me an answer. Any damage done to our home or any other home affected by this, including the new subdivision of over 200 homes that border the proposal would not be covered by homeowners insurance, it would be a straight denial as blasting is not covered under any homeowner policy. These homes are all built on slabs, and therefore they would most likely all sustain damage. The dust alone covers our vehicles my windows weekly let alone the damage it can do to our bodies by breathing the dust. If this comes closer to us, we we will all sustain damage. If this passes, I feel that welcome should be made to buy our property at our at the market value as of today because it would drop drastically if passed.
7-B-26-UR Lorien (37932), July 9, 2026 at 10:33 AM
The proposed proximity of mining operations under this application are a threat to the right to quiet enjoyment of property by residents in Hickory Meadows and other adjacent homes. Air quality, noise pollution, blast noise and, significant vibration, and over-pressure are already an issue, and will be amplified significantly if mining is permitted in the parcel past the existing Graybeal Road. Cumulative industrial noise deserves evaluation. Outdoor living becomes less enjoyable. Property use is affected by persistent industrial noise. Noise mitigation commitments should be enforceable.
Formal notice to the commission of possible Fair Housing Act violation and American with Disabilities Act. A resident has long document Autism and Sensory Disorder.
7-B-26-UR Steve (37932), July 13, 2026 at 11:55 AM
I do not believe Vulcan Materials has done an adequate job of making the surrounding community aware of the proposed quarry expansion. A project of this size, especially one involving blasting, crushing, and the potential for airborne dust, deserves much greater transparency. Quarry operations can impact residents beyond the immediate property line. Blasting vibrations, noise, and dust can travel significant distances, and many residents are concerned about what long-term exposure to airborne particulate matter could mean for their homes, families, and health. What is especially concerning is that only a limited number of residents appear to have received postcards about this expansion. I live less than a quarter mile from the proposed quarry area and I did not receive any notification. How can a community make informed decisions when many of the people who may be directly affected are not even aware of what is being proposed? Residents deserve proper notice, open communication, and the opportunity to ask questions before a major industrial expansion moves forward in their backyard. This is about transparency, accountability, and protecting the quality of life for everyone who calls this community home.