February 12, 2026
Planning Commission meeting
Planning Commission meeting
Public Comments
24 Comments for
Kate
37931
37931
1-E-26-DP
Kate (37931), January 1, 2026 at 7:01 PM
I oppose this request due to the negative impact it would have on traffic in the area. Additionally I do not support changing rural zoning to residential Kate (37931), January 1, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Ariel
37931
37931
1-SD-26-C
Ariel (37931), January 6, 2026 at 12:33 PM
I strongly oppose this proposal. My house is right across the street from this property, and I would request that a traffic study be conducted, as very few people actually travel around the curves/hill at Ariel (37931), January 6, 2026 at 12:33 PM
View Attachment
https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20260106123302.pdf
Gwen
37931
37931
1-E-26-DP
Gwen (37931), January 6, 2026 at 10:07 PM
If this subdivision is built without Bakertown Rd being improved in the vicinity of wherever the entrance/exit is placed, it will make an already dangerous road even moreso. Vehicles speed on this road in both directions and coming from the Bert Newman direction it is quite blind as the area in question is approached. There needs to he some sort of traffic control e.g. stop signs or a traffic light. I fear for the safety of the family, thats my family, myself and all visitors at [redacted] Bakertown Road, driving in and driving out of the property. I fear for our safety when walking to the mailbox which is located across the road, which is already an extremely dangerous undertaking. There is no shoulder, rather a ditch. This subdivision will only increase the number of vehicles on the road and thus increase the danger of an accident. Please listen to my plea for a safer road, not a more dangerous one. Gwen (37931), January 6, 2026 at 10:07 PM
Daniel
37922
37922
9-A-25-SU
Daniel (37922), November 25, 2025 at 3:47 PM
I propose that the entrance connects to (or otherwise combines with) nearby Mars Hill Rd instead of a direct connection to Gallaher View to minimize the number of intersections on Gallaher View with no real impact to residents' convenience. Fewer intersections increases both traffic safety by limiting conflict points and pedestrian safety by reducing the number of (non-signalized) crossings.Daniel (37922), November 25, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Marie
37924
37924
10-A-24-UR
Marie (37924), September 26, 2024 at 2:03 PM
Homeowner of 21 years has had first hand experience with Mr. Donald Epperly. My neighbor was subject to an illegal deutsch bank foreclosure. Mr. Donald Epperly bought the property for $91K when Nashville attorney's trustee was wanting $133K. The root cause of Mr. Epperly business dealings are unethical. In 2020 a licensed tennessee surveyor from Land Development Solutions was on my audio/video Ring camera saying ... are you sure you want me to do this. The surveyor put 12 feet rebar property pins drilled into my property, 5 feet south and 7 feet west. I had a 1988 survey, and recent survey. The 2nd commercial realtor had them removed. Mr. Donald Epperly knowingly sold a property which could not get clear title. The property has a seller owner financing lien and codes now is set for a $40,000 abatement of a property. I also had to experience illegal activity, homeless, prostitution, drugs next to my home due to lack of cleanup and maint. or concern. I would think twice about approval anything he is involved in. Commercial zoning is a must for this property. I have everything on cloud storage. Hundreds of cars/trucks/utility vehicles when Dr. Donald Epperly owned the property. The current owner is stuck with his mess.Marie (37924), September 26, 2024 at 2:03 PM
Debbie
37914
37914
10-A-24-UR
Debbie (37914), February 11, 2025 at 8:39 PM
I strongly oppose JDK properties from obtaining a permit to operate a mulching business located at 0 Cahaba Lane. Mr Epperly that owns the property has been in full operation of his mulching business WITHOUT APPROVAL for 1 year. The property is not near a fire hydrant and located next to Sunnyview Baptist Church on a narrow secondary Road. He continues to run tractor trailers, large dump trucks, box trucks and other equipment without a permit to transport mulch, trees and other debris.Additionally, his transport vehicles present a danger as they are too large to navigate the narrow roads. Our roads leading off Asheville highway and Strawberryplains Pike from his operation are not designed for the weight limit of these vehicles. The roads are showing extreme wear with broken payment. This business has not been given a permit to operate, but defies county codes and regulation. I have personally witness his trucks using the width of the road causing oncoming traffic having to pull over to a ditch or driveways to avoid collision. Road safety and Fire safety are concerns that should be addressed. Please do not allow a permit to continue to operate. Debbie (37914), February 11, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Zachary
37914
37914
10-A-24-UR
Zachary (37914), February 11, 2025 at 9:07 PM
As someone who lives in the neighborhood I strongly oppose anyone who has been operating for a year with no permit to run an unsafe business that causes a large fire hazard to the community and whose equipment is causing road damage.Zachary (37914), February 11, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Linda
37914
37914
10-A-24-UR
Linda (37914), February 11, 2025 at 9:11 PM
I am opposed to this mulch business at the end of Cahaba Lane. I am a member of East Sunnyview Baptist Church that is also on Cahaba Ln. several times myself and another member has asked them to move so we could go up our driveway to the church. They have cut the corner short, where our big sign is, making tire tracks. Coming from Asheville Hwy. they have a hairpin, L shaped, to get to the business. They also come off Strawplains Pike onto my street, Moshina Road. My street has deteriorated so much this past year with all of these big trucks going by. The other way, off Strawplains Pike is very narrow winding road. They have been operating this business for a year without permits to do so. Now they are trying to get this zoned and my concern is no water running down this road. If there was a fire. It could spread to our church and woods surrounding it. We have seen mulch piles as high as high as 20 or more feet. We are praying this business is located to another area. There are tractor trailers going in there that is a danger on these roads to residents in the area. Thank you for your help in this.Linda (37914), February 11, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Amanda
37914
37914
10-A-24-UR
Amanda (37914), February 11, 2025 at 9:59 PM
A business like this should never be allowed into a residential neighborhood. To begin with large tractor trailers, dump trucks which many have to be way over the gross ton weight that should ever be on residential backstreet have been running up and down our neighborhood roads. In addition, I often hear them as they come over the hills and put on their brakes as they attempt to avoid passing cars. Also, The roads in front of my house and backstreet leading into Kaba are in terrible shape. There are large holes in the roads that were not there prior to them being on the roads starting last year and the roads are getting worse and worse. I’m also concerned about my child’s safety to have such large vehicles up and down the my residential roads. I am asking that a business like this not be set up in a residential neighborhood.Amanda (37914), February 11, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Joshua
37914
37914
10-A-24-UR
Joshua (37914), February 11, 2025 at 10:08 PM
I am a resident on Moshina Road since last year. There have been large vehicles up and down my road, which has resulted in many holes in the roads due to hauling trees and mulch. These trucks are using my residential road to come the interstate to Strawberry Plains Pike In order to get to Cahaba Lane, which is in a residential area. Our roads are not built for these top of large vehicles because they are damaging our back roads and the roads are too small for them to travel. They are similar residential areas in Knox County that actually have signs posted for large tractor trailers to not go down the road. I’m asking the same for our community for this not to pass. Lastly, my wife has has had to have many deliveries shipped FedEx freight. However before delivery, FedEx freight will call and will not deliver on our road being in residential and not wanting to travel it in a tractor trailer. Therefore, they will call and have her come and pick it up from their warehouse. Joshua (37914), February 11, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Barbara
37871
37871
10-A-24-UR
Barbara (37871), February 11, 2025 at 10:15 PM
I grew up here, on these roads, and I've never seen tractor trailers on them before. These roads are small and narrow, with blind hills, making it very dangerous. This is a residential neighborhood, and these kinds of trucks shouldn’t be on these roads. They're damaging the roads and creating safety hazards.Barbara (37871), February 11, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Mitchell
37914
37914
10-A-24-UR
Mitchell (37914), February 11, 2025 at 10:40 PM
It states the property is between the E. Governor John Sevier Hwy and the Strawberry Plains Pike interchange. And do you know what is in between all of those two roads? that residential back streets! A business like this doesnât belong in a residential neighborhood. Mitchell (37914), February 11, 2025 at 10:40 PM
christi
37721
37721
10-A-24-UR
christi (37721), February 12, 2025 at 1:35 AM
This has already caused significant disruption in our residential neighborhood, with large tractor trailers, trucks, and other heavy-load vehicles traversing our area from both Strawberry Plains Pike and Gov John Sevier. The property owner has been operating for a year without going through the proper channels to get approval. They've even lied on their application, claiming minimal traffic when, in reality, traffic has increased dramatically, causing damage to our roads. The secondary roads, which are not marked, are now being used by these large vehicles at high speeds, cutting through people's properties because they cannot make proper 90° turns due to their size. This is simply not the appropriate location for a mulching business. These large trucks are damaging the Knox County residential roads, creating large potholes because they just canât handle the weight and posing a safety risk with no fire hydrant near the property. The presence of tractor trailers, box trucks, and flatbeds navigating our small, winding, secondary roads is dangerous for everyone.christi (37721), February 12, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Jason
37924
37924
10-A-24-UR
Jason (37924), February 12, 2025 at 5:26 AM
I grew up riding bikes and traveling these roads. I know for a fact they are much to small for this type of traffic. I have seen from the interstate also the eye sore this has already created. Please do not allow this to continue. Jason (37924), February 12, 2025 at 5:26 AM
Sarah
37914
37914
10-A-24-UR
Sarah (37914), February 12, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Please consider that the roads and neighborhoods surrounding this property are not suitable foe large commercial vehicles. Sarah (37914), February 12, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Kellie
37721
37721
10-A-24-UR
Kellie (37721), February 12, 2025 at 8:04 AM
This has created a huge traffic issue. My daughters use this route to get to a baby sitting job and have a hard time getting thru. Itâs unsafe most days. Please do not allow. Kellie (37721), February 12, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Henry
37914
37914
10-A-24-UR
Henry (37914), February 12, 2025 at 9:13 AM
A business cannot operate before it has passed it's use on review! Why is Mr. Epperly allowed to operate? For over 1 year tractor trailers and large tree service box trucks have been up and down Moshina road (where my family has lived for 33 years) causing damage to roads and forcing smaller vehicles off the roadway due to the narrow unlined roads. There are no fire hydrants anywhere near this major fire hazard,mulching operation! Please stop THIS
Henry (37914), February 12, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Bridgette
37914
37914
10-A-24-UR
Bridgette (37914), February 12, 2025 at 9:36 AM
I live on Moshina and travel on these secondary roads. There are curves and blind spots on these roads which makes it almost impossible to pass one of these. Trucks from the mulch company on Cahaba are using residential roads and backstreets, causing significant wear and tear on the roads. These trucks shouldn't be on these roads. It is a nuisance for other drivers and the citizens who live off these roads. Bridgette (37914), February 12, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Alisha
37871
37871
10-A-24-UR
Alisha (37871), February 12, 2025 at 10:48 AM
The roads are too small and not equipped for the increased traffic in the area. It is not safe for the residence or community to have this business running where it is. Alisha (37871), February 12, 2025 at 10:48 AM
James
37924
37924
10-A-24-UR
James (37924), February 12, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Not only does this company not have proper licensing, but they have lied about how there is âno increased trafficâ. The roads have gotten exponentially worse and more unsafe to drive, due to oversized tractor trailers and trucks using the secondary roads for commercial use. The shoulder-less roads are too narrow for such vehicles to travel on, and only damages the infrastructure. Not to mention peoplesâ property being ruined due to said vehicles not having proper places to turn around in. James (37924), February 12, 2025 at 11:00 AM
James
37914
37914
10-A-24-UR
James (37914), February 12, 2025 at 11:23 AM
East Sunnyview Church is my church and during the time it took me to blow off the driveway, large four trucks went by the church. That was around an hour. I’m very concerned with the danger of passing these trucks on these unmarked narrow roads. My concern also is if a fire broke out. There is no water down that road and there are woods and our church that could burn. Praying this business is relocated somewhere else. Some of the trucks have a tree service out of another county. Most of them lately don’t have a name on them.James (37914), February 12, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Monte
37914
37914
10-A-24-UR
Monte (37914), February 12, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Please stop these trucks. The roads they are on are not meant for constant heavy trucks.Monte (37914), February 12, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Christopher
37914
37914
10-A-24-UR
Christopher (37914), February 18, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Roads leading to this can not support large trucks in very narrow roads with no shoulder. The property has already begun processing mulch even though zoning is still not commercialChristopher (37914), February 18, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Sandra
37806
37806
12-A-25-UR
Sandra (37806), December 26, 2025 at 4:17 PM
I live at [redacted] shipetown rd, mascotSandra (37806), December 26, 2025 at 4:17 PM
We have had to change our blinds and curtains because of the lighting from the Dollar General Store and the new trucking company. What can they do about the lighting that won't disturb local houses in the area? I feel like we've had so much growth in this residential area that it's not country living anymore. We feel like we may have to sell because all of our privacy is going.