September 9, 2021
Planning Commission meeting
Planning Commission meeting
Public Comments
13 Comments for
Jay
37919
37919
9-A-20-AC
Jay (37919), September 4, 2020 at 6:33 AM
I'm a resident at 3718 Cate Avenue and president of the Marble City Neighborhood Association. Along with several residents that I have spoken to, I am very concerned about 9-A-20-AC and 9-A-20-SC. The owner is trying to close an alley and a road with this request, but they indicate in the request that they are consolidating several properties, and, according to the person who was working on the property, the goal is to then turn it over to a developer to build apartments. The areas owned by the applicant are zoned RN-2 and RN-1. So, it really should not be allowed. I have several objections in addition to the fact that the zoning should not allow a consolidation of lots and building of apartments, namely: 1- A large development of apartments would radically transform the character of this neighborhood, and not for the better- 2- it introduces significantly more traffic and 3- typically transient people who are not as likely to be invested in this neighborhood and what we're trying to build as a neighborhood association. 4- The area floods regularly. I've lived in the neighborhood for over 12 years and have seen 3rd Creek flood several times in that time period, two of which times were very severe, one time a house in the area and the little church along Pilkay were severely flooded and the house had to be rebuilt, and the other time, a car was swept down Pilkay and slammed into a street sign on Pilkay and Dance Ave, adjacent to this development. 5- The roads are very narrow and people already drive way too fast along those roads, and at least one young person in the neighborhood has been struck by a car very near this proposed development. I would like to speak at the meeting when this is discussed and at least one other resident would like to as well. I'll be communicating details of this with folks in our neighborhood so several others will hopefully attend and/or speak on Sept 10th. I can be most easily reached at 865-200-7662. Or, I can be reached by email at marblecityneighborhood@gmail.com. Please don't let this project proceed as planned. When neighbors first talked to the owner, the plan was to build duplexes, but that has apparently changed radically, and the new development plans are very undesirable to this neighborhood. Thanks!Jay (37919), September 4, 2020 at 6:33 AM
Doris
37919
37919
9-A-21-SC
Doris (37919), August 12, 2021 at 11:15 AM
I am opposed to the closure of the Lakeland ROW closure. The driveway and path lead from Cherokee Blvd to Sequoyah Park. I and other neighbors use this ROW several times a week for quick access to the park. The path is distant from both private properties and does not cause problems to either.Doris (37919), August 12, 2021 at 11:15 AM
Janet
37919
37919
9-A-21-SC
Janet (37919), August 16, 2021 at 2:25 PM
I oppose this request as a resident of this community and with a house on Lakeland Drive. Many residents use this access point to access the riverside park. It is also a nice connection between Whitlow Park and Sequoyah park. In a time of increasing green spaces and greenways, this is not the time to begin to close off ease of access to these spaces. When I bought my home 20 years ago on Lakeland I did so knowing I would have easy access to the riverside park through this connector. At the very least please consider keeping a greenway or walk way open through this area for established residents. The current owner bought this property knowing where his property lines were. My guess is this is an investor with only an interest in increasing his profits not increasing the value of the neighborhood and his community. I object to this request and beg you deny it.Janet (37919), August 16, 2021 at 2:25 PM
Michael
37919
37919
9-A-21-SC
Michael (37919), August 16, 2021 at 8:46 PM
I strongly oppose the closure of the Lakeland Drive ROW. The applicant's statement that this ROW is only utilized by the two properties that adjoin this ROW is incorrect. This ROW is, in fact, valuable access to Sequoyah Hills Park which is widely used by not only the residents of Sequoyah Hills but also the entire community. Further, I would encourage the City of Knoxville and TVA to require any encroachments of the ROW and Sequoyah Hills Park be removed immediately.Michael (37919), August 16, 2021 at 8:46 PM
Joshua
37919
37919
9-A-21-SC
Joshua (37919), August 16, 2021 at 9:54 PM
I am opposed to the Lakeland Dr. row closure. It is a negative for the neighborhood and Sequoyah and Whitlow-Logan parks; this seems to solely benefit the landowners to the detriment of the public.Joshua (37919), August 16, 2021 at 9:54 PM
Cassandra
37919
37919
9-A-21-SC
Cassandra (37919), August 18, 2021 at 10:15 PM
It is not true that the two adjacent property owners are the only people using this right of way. Numerous neighbors and members of the community use it to get to the park from the Cherokee Blvd Greenway or to connect Whitlow park and Sequoyah park. This neighborhood is full of walkers enjoying our parks. Do not limit our access to our parks!Cassandra (37919), August 18, 2021 at 10:15 PM
Steven
37919
37919
9-A-21-SC
Steven (37919), August 19, 2021 at 6:58 PM
I am opposed to this request, and assume that most of the nearby residents are as well. The adjacent property owners have the benefit of fronting on a beautiful and well-maintained park that enhances their property and property values. In my experience most property owners in similar circumstances oppose public park access next to their homes, just as many do for public access to the beach if the property is near the ocean. In a broad sense I believe that we have seen that we should never reduce public access to public lands, and the property owners bought the property fully aware of the access adjoining their land.Steven (37919), August 19, 2021 at 6:58 PM
The access point that we are discussing, located at Lakeland and Cherokee, is overgrown and has been poorly maintained by the city. I doubt that many of the nearby residents even realize that this is a public access point. I hope that the current or previous adjacent property owners did not play a role in hiding the access or in keeping it inaccessible, but whether the blame lies with the city's lack of investment or negligence, or with the neighbors, the present overgrown state of maintenance may not fit future plans. As the neighborhood and the city grow this will almost certainly be a necessary asset, so why abandon the property now and require an unpleasant condemnation later?
I hope that you will continue to take the long view, and deny this and similar requests.
Marcia
37919
37919
9-A-21-SC
Marcia (37919), August 19, 2021 at 8:12 PM
I object to the transfer of this public access to private property. This access is used by many walkers, runners, dog walkers, bicyclists, and others in the neighborhood and from other neighborhoods. This and other similar access routes are beneficial for many users and contribute to the overall value of the neighborhood, not only the immediately adjacent property owners.Marcia (37919), August 19, 2021 at 8:12 PM
Allowing this transfer would also set a precedent. Please do not approve this!
Kimberly
37919
37919
9-A-21-SC
Kimberly (37919), August 19, 2021 at 10:58 PM
I oppose this closure. I have frequently used this to access the park and avoid the congestion of the parking lots. Kimberly (37919), August 19, 2021 at 10:58 PM
Sara
37919
37919
9-A-21-SC
Sara (37919), August 20, 2021 at 11:33 AM
I have lived within a few short blocks of this ROW for more than 35 years. The statement in the filing that this ROW property is only used by the two adjacent property owners is grossly incorrect. I use this access 4-10 times per week which for those that can do math- Averages 365 uses per year and a cumulative use of more than 12,700 trips up and down this nice shaded trail over the course of my 35 years in Knoxville. I have been caught in more than one pop-up thunderstorm while out enjoying the wonder of nature, and this speedy shortcut home has been a God-send on many occasions. It is an essential access way and also means of egress to countless citizens and must absolutely remain open. Sara (37919), August 20, 2021 at 11:33 AM
Nicholas
37919
37919
9-A-21-SC
Nicholas (37919), August 21, 2021 at 3:36 PM
I strongly oppose this proposal. I am a Sequoyah Hills resident. Our family and others use this connector between the two parks. It needs to remain public property and accessible.Nicholas (37919), August 21, 2021 at 3:36 PM
Jay
37919
37919
9-A-21-SC
Jay (37919), September 8, 2021 at 12:42 PM
The board of the Kingston Pike - Sequoyah Hills Association has voted to oppose the closure of right of way referenced in case 9-A-21-SC. The board supports maintaining public access to the city park, which is on the river side of the Cherokee Boulevard properties referenced in the case file above.Jay (37919), September 8, 2021 at 12:42 PM
For decades, neighborhood residents have used the existing current public access to enter the park. Many have mentioned this on our neighborhood Facebook page, and in public comments to the commission.
View Attachment
https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20210908124232.pdf
Margaret
37919
37919
9-A-21-SC
Margaret (37919), September 8, 2021 at 1:25 PM
I have reviewed the application and accompanying pdf’s from various city and state agencies for a city of Knoxville Closure of Public Right of Way for this access to Sequoyah Park.Margaret (37919), September 8, 2021 at 1:25 PM
As a resident of Sequoyah Hills I wish to voice my objection to closing this Public Right of Way.
It is indeed an error on the application that the closure would only affect two properties, the lots to the direct east and west of this parcel. There are over 100 properties in Sequoyah Hills that have use of this Right of Way as the easiest and safest way to access the Park. There are even houses further East with children who use this access on their bicycles to access the Park as the closer entrance at Southgate is too dangerous, no sidewalks, and too much traffic for children on their bicycles.
This has been a Public Right of Way historically for over 80 years in Sequoyah Hills and will should continue to be so for generations in the future. Because a recent homeowner moved into the neighborhood and wants to close the Right of Way and add to his property is not a sufficient or even merited basis for closing the Public Right of Way. A public easement, as the applicant has offered, is not the same thing and is not protected for generations in the future in the same manner as a Public Right of Way.