July 10, 2025
Planning Commission meeting

Public Comments

28 Comments for

Janice
37914

12-A-24-PD
Janice (37914), December 20, 2024 at 4:16 PM

I thought about telling you how bad the traffic is and lack of respect for the traffic laws are in this area, and the noise from it and what an additional 1500+ cars and trucks along with more construction vehicles would do to the already inadequate roads we have, by the building of 596 apartments and 77 town houses on Delrose Dr. I was in hopes the 15 members would care enough to come and observe the area from James White Parkway to Delrose Dr and down to Holston Hills and Boyds Bridge Pike intersection and talk with the residents here. Come at different times of the day and different days. This way you could make a truly informed decision and not rely on "experts" giving their opinions of surveys that don't tell everything. There is a lot to tell, if you care to ask.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20241220161606.pdf

December 20, 2024
at 4:16 PM

Janice
37914

12-A-24-PD
Janice (37914), December 20, 2024 at 4:23 PM

I thought about telling you how bad the traffic is and lack of respect for the traffic laws are in this area, and the noise from it and what an additional 1500+ cars and trucks along with more construction vehicles would do to the already inadequate roads we have, by the building of 596 apartments and 77 town houses on Delrose Dr. I was in hopes the 15 members would care enough to come and observe the area from James White Parkway to Delrose Dr and down to Holston Hills and Boyds Bridge Pike intersection and talk with the residents here. Come at different times of the day and different days. This way you could make a truly informed decision and not rely on "experts" giving their opinions of surveys that don't tell everything. There is a lot to tell, if you care to ask. Thank you respectfully,

December 20, 2024
at 4:23 PM

Robert
37914

12-A-24-PD
Robert (37914), January 14, 2025 at 12:14 PM

An added issue regarding the proposed Delrose development and the growing traffic problem on Delrose Drive, which this development will present, is the existing new added development now being constructed on Holston Road across Holston River Park. The traffic from this large addition to an existing development will also dump on to Delrose Drive either from Boyd’s Bridge Road or from a very curvy River Side Drive along the Holston River. The access from this development will probably be mostly from the safer direction of Boyd’s Bridge Road on to Delrose Drive. This traffic will then merge into the traffic from the Delrose Development primary entrance making a very large problem for a two lane road. These types of developments now being proposed within residential areas and not more vacant commercial and industrial areas, as we see now being developed, are going to present a major change in these historically single family neighborhoods. Safety within these neighborhoods I believe is being greatly affected and will be an ongoing threat to many Knoxville families.

January 14, 2025
at 12:14 PM

Christina
37914

12-A-24-PD
Christina (37914), January 15, 2025 at 7:21 PM

I live in Holston Hills Neighborhood. This development is going to pour too many people into our cherished historical community. From Delrose there are 2 ways to the interstate, one being through our neighborhood. There is 1 way to the nearest grocery store, through our neighborhood. The traffic we have now is more than enough. Has there been any consideration to creating a different way to access Asheville hwy? Has any research been done to see how this development affects the neighborhoods? As it stands now Delrose is too small and curvy to support the vehicles on it much less the bicyclers, walkers, and occasional stray pet or animal being dodged by people driving too fast or dump trucks that cannot see clearly. I drive this road to and from work downtown several times a week. It is NOT a high traffic road. I have heard that the developers think so many residents are going to be biking, which is funny, but is the city planning to put in a fully enforced bike lane? And if so where? Ditches and houses all around. Are stop signs and red lights going in? How are the parks on Riverside headed downtown going to be impacted? Foot and bike traffic safety is swim at your own risk currently. Thank you for your time with my concerns!

January 15, 2025
at 7:21 PM

Peggy
37914

12-A-24-PD
Peggy (37914), January 22, 2025 at 11:39 AM

Please see attached pdf
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250122113928.pdf

January 22, 2025
at 11:39 AM

Jennifer
37914

12-A-24-PD
Jennifer (37914), January 27, 2025 at 5:53 PM

I am really concerned about the project. Estimates about traffic indicate two times what we have now which I don’t believe. If true with two times the amount of traffic comes two times the amount of polluting emissions that come with the vehicles. Aside from the impact on the wonderful wildlife that comes through the area, it impacts our air quality. We already have to deal with Vulcan Materials’ cement dust especially since they moved their blasting area closer to the road but also the dump on the other end of Delrose that apparently cannot keep mud off the road. When that mud dries god knows what’s in the dust. Our natural filters ,the trees, will be cut down. East Knoxville has always been a dumping ground for whatever Knoxville does not want in other parts of the city/county. Please consider our quality of life in this project.

January 27, 2025
at 5:53 PM

Mark
37914

12-A-24-PD
Mark (37914), January 28, 2025 at 6:02 PM

My wife and I attended the Delrose Drive community meeting last night at Williams Creek Golf Course with the developers of the large proposed apartment complex now being considered in this neighborhood. The message we heard from the Delrose community residents was that the proposed development was much too large for their environment. It seemed to us that the development team was not willing to offer any reduction of the project, and was absolutely resistant to any compromise that might make the residents more comfortable with their actions, The question that arises is....why is it that developers, especially out of town developers, can come into town and get what they want and refuse to offer any reasonable, and I mean reasonable, compromise that can fit into a local community? The planning Commission needs to encourage these developers to work with these communities in order to build positive projects in their environments. Why should the developer have any special privilege over Knoxville residents.

January 28, 2025
at 6:02 PM

Stephen
37914

12-A-24-PD
Stephen (37914), February 4, 2025 at 4:18 PM

Please find attached PDF.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250204161844.pdf

February 4, 2025
at 4:18 PM

Diane
37914

12-A-24-PD
Diane (37914), February 7, 2025 at 11:04 AM

This project seems to use exceptions in order to squeeze too many units onto this site and fail to meet Planned Development requirements to provide a well designed and livable environment not only for the population within the development but also for the surrounding community.

February 7, 2025
at 11:04 AM

Mark
37914

12-A-24-PD
Mark (37914), February 22, 2025 at 9:03 AM

After reviewing the most recent plan for this project submitted I believe the Architects have done a decent job addressing the community amenities required by the Planning Commission. This said, this does not address the fact that the affected community has had very little, if any, voice in the development of this project. We have spent time with them in circulating a petition and found absolutely no support for the nature of what is happening in their environment. They overwhelmingly believe that this project could of had a positive affect by developing a neighborhood of small to medium size homes instead of the smothering density now being proposed. We now wonder, where were the representative voices that represented their concerns as the Rn1 zoning was replaced by the Rn4 zoning allowing the conflict we now see between the developer and the residents? We have several times tried to reach these people and had no success. What do they think their jobs as their constituents now sit at home trying to envision the elephant soon to be standing in their back yards?

February 22, 2025
at 9:03 AM

Mark
37914

12-A-24-PD
Mark (37914), February 25, 2025 at 11:05 AM

At the risk of posting too many comments on this project, I believe there is now an issue within the most recent proposal submitted which will have a significant impact on the Delrose Drive users and needs to have serious dialogue. The Brooks Avenue traffic exit from this project has been removed and now forces the overwhelming traffic discharge from this project on to Delrose Drive. Delrose Drive is a 21 foot wide connector, not 24 foot as stated in the proposal, and Brooks Ave. ,within 300 to 400 ft, of the needed exit, is a 25 to 27 foot wide arterial road that leads directly into downtown Knoxville. Delrose Drive leads primarily either to James White Parkway or Neyland Drive which leads to Kingston Pike, now threatened by a huge increase in traffic moving out from Cumberland Drive. This doesn’t seem to be a very well thought out plan for traffic movement. We believe that Brooks Ave. should share in the traffic flow from this project giving the users the opportunity to access downtown more easily and ease the numbers exiting onto Delrose Drive, a narrower road that leads either to an overloaded interstate or an overloaded major road coming from West Town or the Cumberland canyon of apartments.

February 25, 2025
at 11:05 AM

Mark
37914

12-A-24-PD
Mark (37914), February 26, 2025 at 11:38 PM

P.S. apparently Brooks Ave. is expected to be accessed by way of Riverside Road, a 16 foot wide strip of asphalt that two cars can barely pass each other, and who is it that will widen this road and move all of the utility pole that line each side so that it can accommodate possibly 500 to 600, or more, cars exiting or entering this project? Please step up and reveal yourself if you have this intent. The neighborhood deserves an answer.

February 26, 2025
at 11:38 PM

Mark
37914

12-A-24-PD
Mark (37914), March 1, 2025 at 4:39 PM

Taking a closer look at the expected Riverside Road exit from this project , now that the direct Brooks Avenue exit has been eliminated. Everyone living in this project wanting to go downtown will now be taking the Riverside Road exit on to Brooks Avenue directly in front of Sarah Moore Green Elementary School. There could be hundreds of vehicles entering this school zone at any time creating very dangerous conditions. Conditions, we believe, much more dangerous than the direct Brooks Avenue exit which has at least 450 feet of visibility down the slope in question. The street at this point is 21 ft. Wide, but within 450 ft. of Brooks Drive becoming 25 to 27 ft. wide with houses set back being a more safe distance than on Delrose Drive.

March 1, 2025
at 4:39 PM

Lisa
37914

12-A-24-PD
Lisa (37914), March 3, 2025 at 10:12 PM

Some of your data is incorrect. Riverside Drive & Delrose Drive are heavily used by cyclists. Also I saw no mention of the many dump trucks traveling on Delrose to and from the dump. Also, when I-40 backs up, travel apps lead travelers, including tractor trailers, down these same roads. A development of this size greatly needs a turning lane at its entrance to avoid accidents and a large paved cycling path is needed on all of Delrose and Riverside.
Please consider these additions to keep traffic moving and keep cyclists safe!

March 3, 2025
at 10:12 PM

Mark
37914

12-A-24-PD
Mark (37914), March 4, 2025 at 4:06 PM

There seems to be some opinion going around that in the second submittal of this project the developer has made some changes which allows more green space and less driveway area. I do not see this. I see very little change In both green space and drive/parking area. The long 800 to 900 ft parking lot drives have very little greenery and most of the green spaces cannot be viewed from these areas. The green spaces are mostly either behind the buildings or in the middle of the quadrangle groups of buildings, with limited opportunity to experience these spaces, only the widely spaced trees along the long straight parking lot roads are part of the green space experience. More open green space needs to be a part of the drive/parking areas. This I believe can only be accomplished with fewer units on this site. Please prove me wrong and make the automobile spaces more environmentally treated and more comfortably used by the residents and visitors.

March 4, 2025
at 4:06 PM

Robert H.
37914

12-A-24-PD
Robert H. (37914), March 13, 2025 at 10:52 AM

I am voicing my concerns about the proposed project that in my opinion will over tax the road with increased traffic and impact the surrounding area (neighborhood) in a negative manner.

March 13, 2025
at 10:52 AM

Diane
37914

12-A-24-PD
Diane (37914), May 1, 2025 at 6:13 PM

I represent a large group of people in the neighborhood that are opposed to this request for zoning exceptions. Attached is a petition signed by approximately 200 people. While housing options and density are needed, this property is surrounded by low density RN1, and we believe these exceptions would allow for an even larger multifamily development than is allowed under standard RN4. These exceptions would create a development dramatically out of scale with the neighborhood, overburden existing streets and utilities, and create a safety issue in the surrounding neighborhood. We respectfully request the staff, and the planning commission, turn down this request.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250501181347.pdf

May 1, 2025
at 6:13 PM

Corina
37914

12-A-24-PD
Corina (37914), May 6, 2025 at 10:18 AM

I have requested to speak, but would like to submit supporting documents for consideration.
Thank you.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250506101822.pdf

May 6, 2025
at 10:18 AM

Ryan
37914

12-A-24-PD
Ryan (37914), May 7, 2025 at 12:36 PM

I would ask the members of the Planning Commission to please consider the zip code of the commenter when taking these online comment submissions into account; there seem to be a lot of people without 37914 zip codes showing up to support this development in the last few days. They will not be affected by this and have likely been encouraged to comment because of some association with either the developer or the architect.
This development in its current form will be bad for the surrounding community. The public benefits they propose do not meet the criteria the city provides for the Planned Development process and are simply apartment complex amenities with no benefit to the wider community. The increased noise, traffic, and reduction in privacy that the rest of the community will experience as a result will reduce quality of life and enjoyment in the surrounding area.
Comments continued in attached PDF

View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250507123608.pdf

May 7, 2025
at 12:36 PM

David
37914

12-A-24-PD
David (37914), May 7, 2025 at 3:47 PM

The 'benefits' of this development appear to just be amenities for the residents that are generally built with these big development anyways. It seems they are trying to twist the PD process to put something where it shouldn't be, by calling amenities 'benefits' for the community. Even if the amenities are open to the public, there is almost no sidewalk connectivity for neighbors to get to this site.

May 7, 2025
at 3:47 PM

John
37914

12-A-24-PD
John (37914), May 7, 2025 at 9:30 PM

I am a resident on 2800 block of Brooks Avenue, directly behind this development - my partner and I do not support this proposal in its current form as it does not demonstrate true benefit to our community and brings numerous concerns along with it: environmental, infrastructure, traffic, etc. Please see attached letter.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250507213046.pdf

May 7, 2025
at 9:30 PM

Austen
37914

12-A-24-PD
Austen (37914), May 8, 2025 at 8:30 AM

Staff got this completely right. This area is not suited for such high density housing, and the applicant is clearly intending to develop different than the zoning. The plans offer NO COMMUNITY BENEFITS. That is required for a planned development to be justified. This does nothing for East Knoxville. It only fills the pockets of rich people. Logan Higgins, one of the applicants, is on the Planning Commission, which raises serious ethical concerns. If the Planning Commission approves this, they are showing blatant disregard for the binding documents they are charged to enforce and are unleashing something that will harm the community and make it LESS affordable. Just because he got friends to submit comments saying wow cool affordable housing does not mean that the community supports this, and the plan has no requirement to make units affordable. Do not let developers get away with the buzz word for affordable housing while they try to abuse the system to prioritize profit over the local community. Staff knows what they are talking about. Listen to them.

May 8, 2025
at 8:30 AM

Austen
37914

12-A-24-PD
Austen (37914), May 8, 2025 at 8:51 AM

See attached.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250508085142.pdf

May 8, 2025
at 8:51 AM

Jimmie
37914

12-A-24-PD
Jimmie (37914), May 9, 2025 at 11:26 AM

12-A-24-PD / 2802 Delrose Drive
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250509112622.pdf

May 9, 2025
at 11:26 AM

Charlene
37914

5-B-25-PA
Charlene (37914), June 14, 2025 at 5:26 PM

Iâve lived my entire life in East Knox County. This is my home, and I care deeply about its future. Thatâs why I strongly oppose this rezoning request. East Knox County is already experiencing rapid growth â nearly 18% in the last 15 years â but we are still severely underserved. While we have Food City and Priceless Foods, much of our retail growth has been replaced by Dollar Generals. We have no Walmart, no Loweâs, limited shopping, and very limited healthcare options. Our residents already drive long distances for basic services. Rezoning this land to Mining and Heavy Industrial does nothing to serve the people who live here now or in the future. Instead, it brings traffic, noise, environmental risk, and permanently sets a tone that is nearly impossible to reverse. This is not the kind of growth our community needs. We deserve responsible growth â healthcare, retail, small businesses, and services that support families â not heavy industry in the middle of our growing neighborhoods. I urge you: please deny this rezoning and protect the future of East Knox County.

June 14, 2025
at 5:26 PM

Mark
37914

12-A-24-PD
Mark (37914), June 24, 2025 at 6:09 PM

We just reviewed the new proposal for this project which will go before the Planning Commission on July 10th. I am reminded of an old saying that pretty much sums up what we are seeing in this new proposal. It goes, Same song, third verse, could be better, but gonna be worse. The most glaring decline in this proposal is the creation of the secondary vehicular exit/entrance on Delrose Drive thereby forcing all 800 to 900 vehicles within this project onto the already unsafe road caused by hundreds of large dump trucks from 3 different locations, two quarries and one building materials dump site. I have talked to Meridian Landfill, the building materials dump site, and they said their busiest day would be around 80 loads. That equates to 160 trips to and from this site in one day. The quarries did not want to reveal their load count but rest assured the number would quite large given the number of construction sites they deliver to. Does all of this make for an already unsafe road? Form your own opinion. The other continuing decline in this project is continuing to offer to existing neighborhoods the inner city amenities to people who dont live in dense conditions such as we see in many inner areas of dense cities. These dont mean much to the residents along Delrose Drive. This project will set a precedent for other developments going into residential areas in our city, so please lets get it right.

June 24, 2025
at 6:09 PM

Mark
37914

12-A-24-PD
Mark (37914), June 27, 2025 at 10:47 AM

Further study of the new submittal of this project reveals a glaring weakness of the approach to the design of this project that has not changed. The temptation to focus on the numbers 6000- 8000 estimates of housing needs and the successful development of projects such as the Austin Homes on Summit Hill Drive has caused the designers of this project to embrace a conviction that one size fits all conclusion and they believe this is what the city wants to happen. This assumption has absolutely nothing to do with the neighborhoods now affected by this project. One project is built in open unused space and the project on Delrose Drive is attempting to be placed in the middle of existing single family residential zones along a 21 foot connector road filled with dump trucks, and adjacent to the best par three golf course in the Southeast. The community has said also over and over again that they would welcome a development that would be more in keeping with the scale of their neighborhoods if it helps the city reach their needs but please dont think a density that is now being proposed will accomplish anything but have a negative affect on their lives. The one size fits all approach we now see being considered will only bring on future problems for all of us. Each project has its own set of conditions which needs to be considered for successful results. The proposal now being considered would be well fitted to another open space.

June 27, 2025
at 10:47 AM

Diane
37914

12-A-24-PD
Diane (37914), June 27, 2025 at 11:25 PM

To those who are commenting on this development saying that they like to see these types of projects being developed that relate to downtown, let me enlighten their misunderstanding. The area where this project is being considered is a part of the residential area known as East Knoxville which is not in any exaggerated thought any pet of downtown Knoxville. Any design that places it within these residential area cannot be treated with the same density as the projects that do relate to downtown.

June 27, 2025
at 11:25 PM