July 9, 2026
Planning Commission meeting

Public Comments

16 Comments for

4-A-26-OB
Gary (37924), May 13, 2026 at 10:12 AM

I would like to suggest obtaining the land between council place and Sevier Ave. Reconstruct that part of Sevier Ave into a two way street with a turning lane onto and off of Dawson Street. Block Council place from vehicle traffic altogether and make it into part of the greenway system connecting to the Gay Street Bridge as part of this development.

May 13, 2026
at 10:12 AM

7-E-26-RZ

Chris
37924

7-E-26-RZ
Chris (37924), June 14, 2026 at 2:39 PM

Please be aware that the community has learned of this rezoning request, but there has been absolutely no public notification beyond the standard zoning sign. It is the community's strong opinion that any applicant requesting a rezoning should be responsible for reaching out to residents, explaining their plans, and sharing the design concept. The developer has not met with the community, and as a result, this proposal will face overwhelming opposition again.

June 14, 2026
at 2:39 PM

7-F-26-RZ

Linda
37924

7-F-26-RZ
Linda (37924), June 15, 2026 at 8:52 PM

I have lots of concern with this rezoning so close to the historical cemetery. This cemetery is my husband's family cemetery.
Plus, Strawberry Plains Pike already gets backed up in this same area due to the elementary school.
We only have one grocery store in the area. Lots of concern with bringing lots more families into this area. Please stop this project. Not the area for that much growth!

June 15, 2026
at 8:52 PM

7-F-26-RZ

Kathy
37924

7-F-26-RZ
Kathy (37924), June 17, 2026 at 11:11 AM

This is protected Rural Conservation land. This property has so many problems that must first be addressed before any blanket approval can even be considered. It has a 150 foot TVA easement that runs straight down the middle of the property. TVA must be involved. There is a creek and wetland on the front of the property. Another creek on the back with a spring. All that must be studied for environmental impacts. There has been many car wrecks right in front of this site that makes it dangerous to even imagine a subdivision coming out of it. There must be a traffic study. It is hillside protected and the lay of the land is a huge hill. That protection must be considered. All around this property is 3rd & 4th generation single family homes. It is completely out of character for this area to drop a subdivision with 68 homes right in the middle of this neighborhood. The land could never fit that kind of development in because of the problems it has. Rezoning this would take away the protection that we were told we would have with the new land use plan. Please deny this rezoning and uphold that plan and the neighbors rights. The Commission should not grant a major density entitlement first and ask the hard questions later. Once density is approved, the process shifts toward forcing the site to accommodate that density. That is backwards. The constraints should be identified first, and only then should the Commission determine whether any increase in density is appropriate.

June 17, 2026
at 11:11 AM

7-F-26-RZ

Jamie
37924

7-F-26-RZ
Jamie (37924), June 17, 2026 at 5:10 PM

This rezoning is a few feet away from my family cemetery McCubbins and is just through the woods from my 24 acre farmland. The land is hillside and has a creek running through it . Carter elementary is on the opposite side of straw plains pk, where there are traffic backups daily. This community is tired of having large developments ruin 4-way in. We have one grocery store amd one school. Our roads are narrow and filled past capacity. Please do not approve this rezoning.

June 17, 2026
at 5:10 PM

7-F-26-RZ

Alexis
37924

7-F-26-RZ
Alexis (37924), June 18, 2026 at 1:00 PM

Please do not let developer build these houses. A family graveyard near by does not need this. Strawberry Plains Pike has so much traffic now. Speed limit 45, most cars are doing at least 60 mph. When I go to my mailbox I pray I don't get hit.
SAY NO to this

June 18, 2026
at 1:00 PM

7-F-26-RZ

Tanya
37924

7-F-26-RZ
Tanya (37924), June 18, 2026 at 11:16 PM

This land is currently zoned RC (Rural Conservation) and HP (Hillside Ridgetop Protection), and changing it to PR (Planned Residential) would invite development that does not fit the site or the needs of our community. The proposal for 68 new houses would be on a steep hillside with two creeks/wetland area and a TVA easement running through the middle of the property. This is not a good location for that kind of buildout. The terrain, water features, and protected hillside conditions make this property especially sensitive, and pushing development here would risk damaging the character and stability of the area.
Our community is already carrying too much. We do not have the infrastructure in place for more growth like this. We have one grocery store, our schools are already overflowing, and traffic is already horrible on the interstate, Asheville Highway, and Strawberry Plains Pike. During school hours, Strawberry Plains Pike is already difficult to move through. I can't believe that this would pass without additional studies being done and I think a traffic study while school is in session (not during the summer) would immediately stop this. We ask officials to protect this land, respect the current zoning, and reject this rezoning request. Our community deserves planning that does not make daily life harder for the people who live and travel through this area.

June 18, 2026
at 11:16 PM

7-E-26-RZ

Tanya
37924

7-E-26-RZ
Tanya (37924), June 19, 2026 at 1:24 AM

We do not have the infrastructure for more developments in this area. The traffic is already horrible on Asheville Highway, the interstate, and Strawplains Pike, the schools are overflowing, we have one grocery store. How about do things around here the correct way and build up infrastructure then talk about developments. Either way 12 units/ac is way too much to be located in the middle of a single family residential area and sounds more like an apartment situation again but we don't know because information is not being shared with the community. The same community that is going to have to deal with whatever makes our area worse then all these new developments have already.

June 19, 2026
at 1:24 AM

7-F-26-RZ

Steve
37924

7-F-26-RZ
Steve (37924), June 19, 2026 at 11:10 AM

Please reconsider all development in east Knox county. With the current increases in housing and the volume of vehicles coming from Jefferson and Hamblen county the roads are just to crowded. I sometimes wait in line for 2 miles at the Holston river bridge redlight heading west now. It's become a miserable experience traveling on strawberry plains pike and Asheville hwy. Adding more housing will just add to the traffic problems.
Then you also have the convience center volume problems we currently have that will increase along with schools. Please do not approve any more housing.

June 19, 2026
at 11:10 AM

7-F-26-RZ

Andrew
37924

7-F-26-RZ
Andrew (37924), June 19, 2026 at 11:44 AM

I am writing in opposition to this rezoning. The traffic is already horribly too dangerous on Strawberry Plains Pike to allow for this. Twice this month I have nearly been run off the road while turning into my driveway, which happens to be only half a mile from this proposal.
This road and this area cannot handle the additional traffic until significant infrastructure updates are made. It is far too dangerous for me to turn in and out, so how much more dangerous will it be for me but also for all of the new homeowners in this development with the additional traffic.
Please vote no on this rezoning.

June 19, 2026
at 11:44 AM

7-F-26-RZ

Guy
37924

7-F-26-RZ
Guy (37924), June 19, 2026 at 10:24 PM

Enough already, your rubber stamping these subdivisions with any concern for the infrastructure is absolutely ridiculous!!!?

June 19, 2026
at 10:24 PM

7-F-26-RZ

Heather
37924

7-F-26-RZ
Heather (37924), June 20, 2026 at 12:41 AM

We don't have the infrastructure for everything that is being added out here. We have one grocery store, the schools are overflowing, and the traffic is horrible on Asheville Highway, the interstate, and Strawplains Pike especially when school is in session so we don't need this almost across the street from the elementary school. This particular property is under Hillside Ridgetop Protection. Protect the family cemetery that has been there for decades.

June 20, 2026
at 12:41 AM

7-F-26-RZ

Chris
37924

7-F-26-RZ
Chris (37924), June 20, 2026 at 8:53 AM

Please deny this rezoning request. The proposal raises serious environmental and infrastructural concerns, including the presence of protected wetlands, encroachment by TVA powerlines, and inadequate road infrastructure - all of which would directly impact the area across from Carter Elementary. Additionally, a historic family cemetery sits adjacent to the property. While we recognize that growth is inevitable in East Knox County, we urge the commission to require a proactive, community-driven approach before any approval. Specifically, we request a formal community meeting with the developer to review a detailed site plan, ensuring that the proposed placetype is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood and its unique constraints.

June 20, 2026
at 8:53 AM

7-F-26-RZ

Alexis
37924

7-F-26-RZ
Alexis (37924), June 20, 2026 at 11:07 AM

StrawPlains Pike does not need any more traffic. Please DO NOT CHANGE ZONING

June 20, 2026
at 11:07 AM

7-F-26-RZ

Sarah
37924

7-F-26-RZ
Sarah (37924), June 20, 2026 at 1:43 PM

I strongly oppose this rezoning request. Strawberry Plains Pike is already experiencing increased traffic, congestion, and noise, and the existing two-lane road infrastructure is not adequate to support the additional vehicles that could result from approximately 68 new homes. Multiple apartment and condominium developments have already been built or approved within a mile of this location, further increasing density and placing added demands on local infrastructure.
Our community's services have not kept pace with this growth. Residents are served by limited commercial amenities, including only one nearby grocery store. This proposal could also place additional strain on local schools, including Carter Elementary, by bringing more school-age children into an area where educational resources, staffing, and classroom capacity must already meet the needs of a growing population.
The proposed rezoning is inconsistent with the established character of the surrounding community and undermines the purpose of the Rural Conservation designation. I urge the MPC and County Commission to deny this request and preserve the current zoning.
A pdf letter has been attached.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20260620134356.pdf

June 20, 2026
at 1:43 PM

7-SD-26-C

Scott
37924

7-SD-26-C
Scott (37924), June 20, 2026 at 7:08 PM

Why are all these builders deciding to jam a bunch of apartments on or near Asheville Highway and Strawberry Plains Pike. Slow growth is ok but turning this rural area into apartment city is not what we need in this area. Once we start this it will not stop. Why not have development groups look at putting a manufactured housing in these locations instead of apartments at 3 to 4 units per acre that will be affordable for young couples can own instead of giving money to greedy developers who don't care about the neighborhoods they are destroying. We have Food City which prices are higher than other Food City stores because there is no competition near by. We do not need Strawberry Plains Pike to be another Tazewell Pike traffic daily jam.

June 20, 2026
at 7:08 PM