July 10, 2025
Planning Commission meeting

Public Comments

11 Comments for

7-SB-25-C
Tiana (37920), June 24, 2025 at 7:38 PM

A steep-slope development is planned on parcel 123FA003,Âone of the highest, most unstable peaks along Chapman Highway. The narrow access road is already eroding, unsafe for EMS, and unfit for more traffic or housing. The developer began clearing land without permits, cutting old-growth trees, and misleading neighbors about his intentions.
This is not affordable housing, its a high-risk project that endangers homes, wildlife, and Knoxvilles greenbelt.
Read the full letter and join us in demanding responsible, transparent planning
Your voice matters. Lets protect our hill
- Tiana Winter
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250624193820.pdf

June 24, 2025
at 7:38 PM

7-SB-25-C

Candace
37920

7-SB-25-C
Candace (37920), June 28, 2025 at 10:48 AM

I am worried about the trees being taken down and the road being busy. Some houses would be okay but 9 is too many.

June 28, 2025
at 10:48 AM

7-SB-25-C

Concerned
37920

7-SB-25-C
Concerned (37920), June 24, 2025 at 5:24 PM

I am writing as a resident of Locust Hill Lane to formally object to the proposed development detailed in Case 7-SB-25-C. While I recognize the need for housing in our community, this specific site raises major red flags from a public safety and environmental standpoint that I believe must not be overlooked. Please see the attached rationale. Thank you.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250624172435.pdf

June 24, 2025
at 5:24 PM

7-SB-25-C

Ann
37920

7-SB-25-C
Ann (37920), June 24, 2025 at 12:47 PM

I live in Lake Forest and turning left off Chapman Highway is dangerous but not as dangerous as Red Bud Road. Locust Hill is just before Red Bud and we do NOT need additional driveways or increased traffic on Locust Hill. Traffic studies should be done to see the impact of a new subdivision on Chapman Highway. Also, I am told there is a major cave system under this potential development. I am concerned that this steep and forested piece of land will be demolished to create new homes and thus stop one of the corridors of the Urban Wilderness. I am very concerned that developers use huge equipment to cut down all the trees on this type of property which could be developed for one or two houses and not a subdivision. Please consider the Hillside Protection area and the beauty of the surrounding neighborhoods. South Knoxville has more trees than other areas of town and we are proud of that. Please do not allow destruction of our forests.

June 24, 2025
at 12:47 PM

7-SB-25-C

Dede
37920

7-SB-25-C
Dede (37920), June 29, 2025 at 2:01 PM

I write to ask you to please not approve the Subdivision Concept Plan 7-SB-25-C to be located at the corner of Locust and Chapman Highway. I am a Colonial Village resident and have been for nearly 30 years. I travel this particular section of Chapman Highway on a daily basis. I believe this to be one of the most dangerous stretches of highway in the whole City of Knoxville. There have been countless wrecks and even fatalities. This should be considered before allowing a developer to build more homes right in middle of this very dangerous area. Its literally a matter of life and death. Thank you for your kind consideration.

June 29, 2025
at 2:01 PM

12-A-24-PD

Jake
37920

12-A-24-PD
Jake (37920), May 7, 2025 at 9:57 AM

I'm writing in to advocate 'in part' for the Cardinal Place development, and to encourage the Planning Commission to suggest changes. I agree with the Staff assessment of the development's public benefits. Too many of the benefits listed appear to be inaccessible by the public, and I'm also skeptical of the number of parking spots that the development has proposed. I would like to see a portion of the development set aside for Section 8 housing.
That said, I think we must always weigh the more intangible public benefits of higher density against the much more tangible benefits of community spaces. On balance, I think that Cardinal Place would be beneficial to Knoxville by increasing the amount of housing available to Knoxville residents, and by increasing the density of the city, and I encourage the Planning Commission to find a way to work with the developers to find a compromise.

May 7, 2025
at 9:57 AM

7-SB-25-C

Responsible dev.
37920

7-SB-25-C
Responsible dev. (37920), June 26, 2025 at 5:01 PM

In 3 years this hillside has experienced at least 20 fallen very mature trees which shows active erosion and instability
Several vehicles have driven off edge resulting in needing pulled off hillside
A firetruck had to back all the way down and turnout in genes driveway
A streetside parked vehicle was struck by another vehicle.
Multiple kub outages from fallen lines

June 26, 2025
at 5:01 PM

7-SB-25-C

Tracy
37920

7-SB-25-C
Tracy (37920), June 27, 2025 at 1:51 PM

Please see attached about the concerns of this proposed development.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250627135144.pdf

June 27, 2025
at 1:51 PM

7-SB-25-C

Nancy
37920

7-SB-25-C
Nancy (37920), June 25, 2025 at 6:08 PM

Please see attached PDF for full statement
I live at 5304 Chapman Highway and would be significantly impacted by the proposal to build a development behind my house. I have lived here since 1979 and bought my house, in part, because of the wooded area. This woods is wildlife corridor, connecting some parts of the urban wilderness to East Red Bud.
This area is a steep hillside between Locust Hill Lane and 3 houses, such as mine, directly on Chapman Hwy. The proposals scope of 9 houses significantly enlarges density on this strip of land. The entire scope seems far greater than what this hillside can sustain.
There are two proposed houses very close to the area behind my house.
I am concerned also about trees being cut and the impact on erosion of the steep hill, which will impact my property.
This area would certainly have been an area that could have been a protected wildlife and wooded area, rather than inserting 9 houses on potentially unstable land. I urge the MPC to reconsider the need to alter this wildlife and wooded area of Knoxville.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250625180849.pdf

June 25, 2025
at 6:08 PM

7-SB-25-C

Make it
37920

7-SB-25-C
Make it (37920), June 24, 2025 at 5:35 PM

Prioritizing Investment Property Over Community Needs
Perhaps most troubling is that the proposed homes are not intended to be affordable housing for local families or first-time buyers. These units are being marketed as investment properties, likely short-term rentals or absentee-owned income-generating assets. This does nothing to alleviate our communitys acute shortage of affordable, owner-occupied housing. In fact, it exacerbates displacement pressures and undermines the stability of our neighborhood.

June 24, 2025
at 5:35 PM

7-SB-25-C

Gene
37920

7-SB-25-C
Gene (37920), June 26, 2025 at 8:35 AM

The attached file is our strong objection to the development plan for Locust Hill Lane.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250626083507.pdf

June 26, 2025
at 8:35 AM