Public Comments

November 26, 2021
at 4:53 PM

Joanna
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Joanna (37932), November 26, 2021 at 4:53 PM

Are you out of your minds? I know that greed rules the day, but you have got to be kidding about this. 390 houses on this little strip of road? 390 houses plus at least that many more cars in Hardin Valley? How many more kids can you cram into the schools? We've taken our kids out of HV schools because of severe overcrowding. Obviously you don't live in this part of town. It is horrific on a good day. Just stop. Also, I live on Couch Mill Rd and will be impacted severely by this. You all should be ashamed for even allowing this subdivision to make it to this stage. Get your heads out of your butts and see what this uncontrolled destruction of Hardin Valley is doing to this area.

November 30, 2021
at 9:41 AM

Tina
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Tina (37932), November 30, 2021 at 9:41 AM

I am writing to oppose the proposed subdivision located on Couch Mill Road in Hardin Valley. I have lived in Hardin Valley 30 years and own 10 acres. This was once a picturesque area but has been ruined by developers. It is rumored that the Planning Commission is paid off by developers, and the numerous subdivisions in Hardin Valley attest to this. The traffic is horrendous, the schools are verging on overcrowded, the infrastructure is insufficient and yet, you keep approving more and more subdivisions. I cannot even cross the street to get the mail out of my mailbox. Couch Mill Road is insufficient to support the traffic from 400 units. You think a roundabout is going to solve the problem?!?! I challenge you to drive from my house to Pellissippi Parkway during the morning or reverse the route during the afternoon. This area does not need any more subdivisions with 3-4 houses per acre. Please stop approving every subdivision that crosses your table especially this one, Hardin Valley does not need any more subdivisions. The infrastructure will not support this magnitude of a project. The schools cannot support 500+ more students, not to mention the 100s of students from the subdivisions being built on Sam Lee Road. STOP THIS MADNESS-NO MORE SUBDIVISIONS IN HARDIN VALLEY!!!!!

November 30, 2021
at 10:59 AM

Susie
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Susie (37932), November 30, 2021 at 10:59 AM

I know I’m wasting my time but when are you going to stop the destruction taking place in Hardin valley. Please take the time to drive through pellissippi and Hardin valley at 5:00 pm and see what it’s like. The construction that is going on there is the worse design in history. As everyone stated previously if you had put a ramp in the soccer field as a entrance to pellissippi parkway to loop around you would have made a huge difference in traffic flow. But now you want to keep adding development to a part of the country that nobody wants to be a city. The schools are overcrowded. Stop the destruction of our country and think of the wildlife instead of the dollar.

November 30, 2021
at 2:28 PM

Michael
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Michael (37932), November 30, 2021 at 2:28 PM

What would be the impact on emergency response times for fire and police? With the added traffic and current staffing, would response times and availability be acceptable to existing and new residents?

November 30, 2021
at 6:07 PM

Jenna
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Jenna (37932), November 30, 2021 at 6:07 PM

I am writing to vehemently oppose the proposed development on Couch Mill Rd. As an owner of property adjacent to the property being discussed it greatly troubles me to think that the land would be turned into a large-scale subdivision. I ask that the council strongly consider the following points:
FULL COMMENTS UPLOADED AS PDF
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20211130180701.pdf

November 30, 2021
at 7:22 PM

Debbye
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Debbye (37932), November 30, 2021 at 7:22 PM

I strongly oppose the approve of yet another residential development. Hardin Valley cannot take any more growth until the roads and schools are evaluated. Hardin Valley schools are not that old and yet they are already bursting with too many children. If you want this community to thrive it must stop and consider it as a whole. The addition of the new elementary schools in Karns isn't even going to make a significant impact and the overflow. If builders want to spend money maybe they should invest in schools and road expansion.

November 30, 2021
at 10:09 PM

Shaun
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Shaun (37932), November 30, 2021 at 10:09 PM

I am speaking up due to our own residential property being affected by this proposal of widening the road to accommodate the influx of traffic. The traffic at the intersection of Steele Road, Sam Lee and Couch Mill is burdened as it is and by adding more residential housing this will cripple the already burdened flow of traffic. The dangers of driving this road have become apparent and I am fearful for the students walking home each and everyday. In the last few months we have had our fence ran over, our mailboxes plowed through and drunk drivers disrupt our commute all in middle of the day!! My own teenage boys drive these roads each and everyday and the already burdened roads make me nervous each time they set out. The proposed roundabout will require the acquisition of a portion of our property which I am opposed to. The issue of "spot zoning" is an insult to immediate and adjacent rural residential and even agricultural land is defaming the heart of the valley. I am a teacher at the middle school, and I know first hand the burden of increasing the class size and even seeing how the lack of space of elementary classrooms is lessening the effectiveness of student to teacher ratios. This is a multifaceted issue that is having a detrimental effects on our community. Please stop and consider negative effects on our infrastructure, schools, utilities and personal residential properties

December 1, 2021
at 8:42 PM

Susan
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Susan (37932), December 1, 2021 at 8:42 PM

This property and all the surrounding property are designated as one acre lots. The developer should develop the property as one acre lots in accordance with their neighbors. Couch Mill Road and Sam Lee Road are not designed for the traffic this proposed subdivision would bring as well as other potential subdivisions that will be built eventually along Couch Mill Road. Knox County should require this developer and all developers to set aside enough land to widen narrow two lane roads in the future before the land is developed. Visibility is poor in both directions trying to turn left off the dead end section of Couch Mill Road onto Sam Lee Road. Increased traffic will make that intersection more dangerous. If this property is developed, please require the developer to do something to improve that intersection. Hardin Valley schools are already overcrowded, and numerous houses are under construction currently. How does Knox County plan to address the overcrowding of schools? Lastly, will Knox County please set aside some land for parks and wildlife areas in Hardin Valley?

December 2, 2021
at 12:59 PM

Tasha
37932

12-K-21-RZ
Tasha (37932), December 2, 2021 at 12:59 PM

Please review the school data: Hardin Valley Schools Current Data

Hardin Valley Elementary: Capacity 900, Enrollment 1304, 5 portables, 2 more portables have been ordered
Hardin Valley Middle School: Capacity 1200, Enrollment 1081, HVES currently has the largest 4th and 5th grade classes in history
Hardin Valley Academy: Capacity 1800, Enrollment 2125

We CANNOT support more homes in our area with schools past capacity. Please consider the environmental impact if we continue to destroy large plots of land. Please consider our infrastructure. Our roads are are constantly being repaired because they were never designed for high amounts of traffic with heavy machinery. Please consider our fire department. Are they able to handle this many more homes/subdivisions when most are cutting corners and not adding fire hydrants. Please consider the school bus drivers who already complain about the poor selections for entrances. Please consider our community's lack of public parks, walking paths, or even police station.

December 2, 2021
at 3:39 PM

Susan
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Susan (37932), December 2, 2021 at 3:39 PM

I am writing to fervently request any proposed subdivision development on Couch Mill Rd be denied. Couch Mill and Sam Lee Roads are barely wide enough for cars to pass and have no shoulder. Current traffic on these roads is heavier than they are built to handle. An additional 300+ homes will only exacerbate an already difficult traffic situation. The intersection of Couch Mill and Sam Lee has limited visibility and is hazardous. Changing the intersection of Steele, Sam Lee, and Swafford Roads to a roundabout or calming circle is not a solution. I find these types of intersections to be a hazard in the county due to the fact that most people are not courteous enough to properly use them or they become congested as well - e.g. Concord Road at Northshore. Current residents' property will have to be taken to make space for said roundabout or slip lane. Will the proposed developer compensate those residents for the loss of their property. Knox County needs to stop approval of this level of development until the developers are required to provide financially for the improvement of roads and schools PRIOR to start of development. Sam Lee Road between Steele and Solway Roads is disastrous due to heavy truck traffic during the building of new subdivisions there. It should not fall to the constituency to pay for the improvements needed for these developers to take their money and run.

December 3, 2021
at 8:59 AM

Michael
37932

12-K-21-RZ
Michael (37932), December 3, 2021 at 8:59 AM

When is enough going to be enough? Hardin Valley schools are over capacity. Roads are clogged and every time it rains, the increased run-off floods Conner Creek and the areas around it, including these roads. Hardin Valley Road used to be a designated scenic drive. Now, it's another clogged artery of traffic due to the unbridled increase of subdivisions that are not being developed responsibly. Understanding the need for growth, I was under the impression that developers needed to follow the Planning Commission's recommendations, especially in terms of maximum dwelling units per acre. Most of the older neighborhoods, and some of the more recent - like Covered Bridge - are within the 1.88 DU/acre that the planning commission recommended. The developers always appealed to increase this (of course) - but there was a time that the County Commissioners would actually follow what the Planning Commission suggested. Can we PLEASE go back to that? The past 8 - 10 years has seen every appeal to increase density of developed land accommodated. Why is this? Why do developers and commissioners get to overrule the voices of those who live in the areas being overdeveloped? This irresponsible development needs to be curbed. Growth is needed, but if left unchecked, growth turns into tumors, and this once beautiful valley is becoming riddled with them.

December 3, 2021
at 1:52 PM

Tina
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Tina (37932), December 3, 2021 at 1:52 PM

As of December 3, 2021, there have been no public notice Use on Review signs posted on Couch Mill Road at the proposed site of the subdivision. Even though the planning commission has attempted to confuse the public by posting on the postcards we received that the site of the subdivision is 11636 Hardin Valley Road, there were no signs at this (incorrect) site either. I live on Couch Mill Road and drive past this site at least twice a day, and at no time has there been Use on Review signs located at the site where the subdivision would be located.

I OPPOSE THIS SUBDIVISION!!! THERE ARE ENOUGH SUBDIVISIONS IN HARDIN VALLEY-JUST DRIVE DOWN HARDIN VALLEY ROAD AND YOU WILL SEE 1000S OF HOUSES BEING BUILT. THE ROADS DO NOT SUPPORT THIS AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC. THE SCHOOLS ARE ALREADY OVERCROWDED AND WILL NOT SUPPORT 1000S MORE STUDENTS!!!

December 3, 2021
at 3:57 PM

Patsy
37932

12-K-21-RZ
Patsy (37932), December 3, 2021 at 3:57 PM

I ask that you DENY the request for zoning 12-K-21-RZ. I live off of Couch Mill Rd. and have to pull out on Sam Lee at a blind hill which will be near the entrance to this subdivision and with all the traffic this new subdivision will bring it will make it very dangerous. And the intersection at Sam Lee and Steele Rd. will be a hazard to everyone. Isn't this area zoned AG1 per acre? Please let's keep it that way.

December 3, 2021
at 4:05 PM

Cheryl
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Cheryl (37932), December 3, 2021 at 4:05 PM

As a resident of Hardin Valley I request the planning commission to NOT approve another subdivision for our area. It is simply not needed. Hardin Valley does not have the infrastructure to handle anymore . Just last week there were three accidents in less than 1/4 of a mile on Hardin Valley Road during rush hour. It was so bad that the ambulance drivers could not reach people in need. Daily it takes almost 30 minutes to an hour to travel less than 5 miles. I can’t imagine the strain on the schools, utilities and emergency services .

December 3, 2021
at 4:17 PM

Cheryl
37932

12-B-21-SP
Cheryl (37932), December 3, 2021 at 4:17 PM

As a resident of Hardin Valley, please no more subdivisions ! Hardin Valley does not have the infrastructure to handle it. It can’t handle it now. It is dangerous to drive in the Valley now. It can take 30 mins to an hour to drive 5 miles . Emergency services can’t reach people due to the shear amount of cars and congestion. There are accidents almost daily. I can’t imagine the strain on the schools and emergency services. Greed is destroying a once ideal place to live. I have attended planning commission meetings before and I know members focus on zoning laws and not human issues. I say your responsibility is bigger to the people you serve .

December 3, 2021
at 4:21 PM

Sascha
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Sascha (37932), December 3, 2021 at 4:21 PM

I am a resident of Couch Mill Road and I oppose this development. Couch Mill Road is a very quiet road, and residents such as myself and my family enjoy the peace of this area. This subdivision would completely disrupt our way of life and it is completely unfair to the current residents. This road is also not capable of handling 400 new homes crammed onto this lot. Hardin Valley does not need anymore subdivisions--The traffic and overcrowding are already bad enough. I am also an alumna of Hardin Valley (I went to HVES and then HVA; the middle school was not built when I was a student). I can attest that these schools are extremely overcrowded as it is. When I was in high school, students had to take 7 AM classes and dual enrollment courses at Pellissippi in order for the school to accommodate all of us. At the elementary school, trailers had to be added to create more classrooms. The music room that I used to use no longer exists becuase it had to be converted into another classroom. This school system is already very overcrowded and it does not have the infrastructure to handle 400 more family homes. Please do not build this development, for the sake of current families, residents, and the greater Hardin Valley community.

December 3, 2021
at 8:49 PM

Mark
37932

12-B-21-SP
Mark (37932), December 3, 2021 at 8:49 PM

Please do not allow yet another neighborhood packed with houses into our already over crowded community. Our schools are too full. Our roads are breaking and clogged. Every day traffic backs up causing delays. There simply isn’t room to handle all the people without better infrastructure. Consider the individuals who live in this community before the developers who have no long term interest or concern. As soon as all the farms are bulldozed they’ll be long gone and we’ll be left with the mess. I grew up in West Knoxville in the time of rapid growth as people flooded into town to work at TVA. I saw first hand how new construction can be done in an organized manner where those neighborhoods are still highly desirable years later. Please reconsider.

December 4, 2021
at 12:56 PM

Kristi
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Kristi (37932), December 4, 2021 at 12:56 PM

We built our house in Hardin Valley 17 years ago. We have watched a high school be built, Food City, a middle school, Lancaster Ridge, etc. Land is being sold and developed at such a rapid pace that our roads and schools cannot keep up. In addition to an inadequate infrastructure, the land and farms that makes Hardin Valley so beautiful and attractive to residents is slowly deteriorating. Please don’t continue to destroy the land!

December 4, 2021
at 12:56 PM

Kristi
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Kristi (37932), December 4, 2021 at 12:56 PM

December 4, 2021
at 1:27 PM

Tony
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Tony (37932), December 4, 2021 at 1:27 PM

There are 3 reasons why this property should not be rezoned to residential. First, traffic has already made living in Hardin Valley a nightmare and with over 10 subdivisions currently being developed without houses even beginning to be built on them, the traffic is not even as bad as it will be once these subdivisions are finished. Second, our schools are already overcrowded. We pay taxes for our kids to get a good education and with schools over capacity, that makes it very difficult. In addition, the pandemic and overcrowding isn’t smart. Third, your responsibility as the commission that looks at rezoning is to the people that you serve and the residents already living in Hardin Valley. Your decision affects things like traffic accidents, overcrowding in schools, stress on families and the inadequate infrastructure in Hardin Valley. Please seriously consider stopping this development at this time.

December 5, 2021
at 3:18 PM

Geena
37932

12-K-21-RZ
Geena (37932), December 5, 2021 at 3:18 PM

Please reconsider putting 100 Ball homes at the end of this street. WGF is a tiny road that can barely accommodate 2 vehicles without one of them having to veer off to the side. With an entrance on both HC and WGF, cars will be driving down our dead end street all the time. We already have cars running into horse fences and mail boxes, and certainly don’t need another 200 or more cars traveling down this little winding road. Plus, all the construction traffic will be a complete nightmare. Hardin Valley is already being ruined due to every single request for a cheap, cookie cutter neighborhood being approved. Traffic on the west end of HV and Hickory creek is already over run with construction trucks, all the trucks bypassing the weigh station, etc. I’m fortunate my kids have already graduated, otherwise I would be livid at the over crowding of these schools. Hardin Valley has basically turned into Ball Valley. You have to schedule ur day around school letting out, bc you can’t get down HV road between 2:30 and 4. When is all of this development going to stop, and if it’s not, when are the roads going to be improved to accommodate this traffic?

December 5, 2021
at 8:15 PM

Valerie
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Valerie (37932), December 5, 2021 at 8:15 PM

Please see attached letter.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20211205201559.pdf

December 5, 2021
at 9:00 PM

Jeff
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Jeff (37932), December 5, 2021 at 9:00 PM

DENY the rezoning to PR (Planned Residential), consistent with the denial recommendation for the associated sector plan amendment. The applicant has reasonable use of the property under Agricultural zoning. The Agricultural zone allows residential development on 1-acre minimum lot sizes, consistent with surrounding development. Approval of PR zoning for this site would allow incompatible lot sizes compared to surrounding parcels. It would constitute a spot rezoning, giving this property development rights that no one in the immediate area would be afforded.

Michael Brusseau of the planning staff made these recommendations on a nearby piece of land. Reference 5-D-18-RZ & 5-A-18-AP. Also, improvements were needed in this reference about the surrounding roads that still need to be addressed for safety. Limited visibility of the entrance and exits would be a concern.

The developer should construct this property as one acre lots to reduce the negative impact on the infurstructor and the safety of the new and existing Hardin Valley residence. I am disappointed that the developer could have been more forthcoming with the plans for this property by reaching out to the community they want to be a part. A meeting would have allowed them to share and gather insight. Intentions became clear to the neighbors with the late posting of the required signage for a rezoning. These signs went up less than one week before the meeting.

December 5, 2021
at 10:20 PM

Tracy
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Tracy (37932), December 5, 2021 at 10:20 PM

Hardin Valley roads are already overcrowded and unsafe. The Hardin Valley community cannot handle the increase in traffic that will come from this subdivision. Here is a list of traffic issues that we have seen or experience on a regular basis:

* Cars traveling at a high rate of speed on Sam Lee Road, Steele Road and Hardin Valley Road. Our son was killed by one of these speeders on Steele Road.

* Cars going on the wrong side of the road to pass other cars that are driving at the posted speed limit.

* Traffic is horrible in the morning, at school dismissal time and in the evening when coming home from work. Traffic is backed up from the schools to Pellissippi.

* Cars drive down the center of Hardin Valley Road to avoid waiting in the traffic.

* The traffic is still heavy at Hardin Valley Road and Pellissippi, even with the improvements.

* Schools are overcrowded as well.

Please do not allow this subdivision, or any other subdivision, to be built in Hardin Valley. The community is at max capacity. Our peaceful, rural area is being destroyed by all of these new homes.

December 5, 2021
at 10:42 PM

Susan
37932

12-K-21-RZ
Susan (37932), December 5, 2021 at 10:42 PM

We must put a stop to all of these neighborhoods coming into Hardin Valley. It is very irresponsible to cram so many houses onto every single acre land. The planning commission is supposed to help communities grow in a way that is very well rounded and supports the livelihood of the community. And Hardin Valley all that is happening as neighborhood after neighborhood coming in of houses. We do not have The roads to support all of this traffic which is becoming absolutely undrivable, not to mention how many wrecks are happening on a daily basis on the rats that I have to take from my house. We have no land set aside in our community for parks, community centers, greenways, ballfields, a post office or library… If we are going to have thousands of people moving into Hardin Valley area then we need resources for them to use as well. We need all of those community type of buildings as well as businesses to help balance out the population and the goods and services that the population needs. Our schools are already overcrowded and cannot support more families moving into our area. You cannot add population without being sure that we have the proper roads, schools, and community resources for those people. Please stop thinking just about bringing in the tax dollars and making lots of money for builders and think about the people who actually live in this community every single day. We are screaming at the top of our lungs to please stop building homes!!!!

December 5, 2021
at 10:47 PM

Susan
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Susan (37932), December 5, 2021 at 10:47 PM

I strongly oppose any further subdivisions being developed in the Harden Valley area. There are far too many homes currently being built that we already cannot handle the traffic on our roads, the students in our schools, and not to mention that we have no community resources of our own in Hardin Valley. We have no parks, community centers, greenways, no post office or library… However you continue to add thousands of people to this small community without providing any real community resources for us to use. It is irresponsible to continue to allow developers to make millions of dollars building neighborhoods and yet we have nothing being invested back into making this a nice area to live in. Instead we deal with horrendous traffic, terrible wrecks on our roads every single day, schools that are much too overcrowded already, and not even any green space to use. As a planning commission is supposed to do, please plan an actual community for our area, not just homes and subdivisions.

December 5, 2021
at 11:18 PM

Dennis
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Dennis (37932), December 5, 2021 at 11:18 PM

As a resident near Couch Mill Road, I am deeply concerned about a 400 unit subdivision being proposed on 132 acres off of Couch Mill Road near Hardin Valley Road. The land is currently zoned as agricultural. Constructing 400 houses on approximately 100 acres of the current farmland would be very detrimental to our rural community. There are too many subdivisions being erected in Hardin Valley as it is. Couch Mill Road and Steele Road are simply way too narrow to accommodate this exponential increase in traffic if this subdivision were to be constructed. The roads are too narrow even with the flow of traffic we already have. This also will greatly increase the strain on our local schools Hardin Valley Elementary, Middle and Academy which are already overflowing with the existing population they serve. The subdivision would result in exceeding the Knox County intersection standard which is currently 3000. As a resident of the community this proposed subdivision would negatively impact, I urge you to vote NO on the proposal. This subdivision would destroy our lovely rural community and endanger lives with increased traffic on our already small roads. Please OPPOSE this.

December 6, 2021
at 9:43 AM

Beverly
37932

12-K-21-RZ
Beverly (37932), December 6, 2021 at 9:43 AM

If you have never driven the roads here you need to. They are very narrow and are getting rutted and potholes from general traffic volume and heavy construction vehicles. This poses a great risk to folks who travel the roads. Despite improvements around the Hardin Valley Schools there is still significant traffic impact on flow of traffic. The schools are reaching or have reached capacity. How do you expect them to handle all the new development being approved. I understand there is a need for housing in the Knoxville area however, infrastructure must be developed to deal with this population density. With all the tax revenue these developments provide some if not all should be applied to improving infrastructure.

December 6, 2021
at 9:50 AM

Kathleen
37932

12-B-21-SP
Kathleen (37932), December 6, 2021 at 9:50 AM

We urge you to carefully consider the proposed project by Ball Homes proposal for the impact on both W Gallaher Ferry Rd as well as the all of the zoning proposals at this December meeting for the entire community of Hardin Valley. We hired Robert Jacks with Ajax Engineering to conduct a traffic study on W Gallaher Ferry Rd in April 2019. We would be happy to share this study with you. The results of his study reveal many concerns about the intersection of Hickory Creek Rd and W Gallaher Ferry Rd where the 2nd entrance of the Ball Homes plan is proposed to be located. Hickory Creek is a rural minor arterial, and W Gallaher Ferry Rd is a rural county road. However, Hickory Creek Rd is only a mere 21.9 feet wide with no center lane and no shoulder - which does not support the standards for a minor arterial! We urge you to conduct an updated and specific traffic feasibility study on Hickory Creek Rd and W Gallaher Ferry Rd BEFORE approving this project! Further, West Gallaher Ferry Road does not have white edge lines on any sections of the roadway. Roadway lighting is not present, and there are vertical and horizontal curvature. There are potholes, cracks, and the general upkeep of W Gallaher Ferry Rd from the county has been ignored. There are not any Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) or Knoxville-Knox County Planning permanent traffic.....Please see our attached PDF for further comments and screenshots.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20211206095039.pdf

December 6, 2021
at 10:42 AM

Laura
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Laura (37932), December 6, 2021 at 10:42 AM

I do not feel that a 400 unit subdivision could be supported by the roads currently in place in the area. Traffic is already an issue with many of the roads having considerable back ups several times during the day. Most of the roads leading to Hardin Valley Rd. are just one lane each way and very narrow. Also, there’s terrible overcrowding at the Hardin Valley schools. The elementary school has 400 children over capacity already and the high school has over 300. Portables have been added to the elementary school and more have been ordered. It is also dangerous for the children standing at a lot of the bus stops off of these narrow winding roads in the early morning hours. I feel more homes and traffic would worsen all of these problems. It is estimated that the number of cars would more than triple on Couch Mill and Sam Lee roads. This would result in exceeding the Knox County intersection standard. Not to mention the environmental impact and the problems with construction vehicles as a subdivision could take 7 to 8 years to complete. Please reconsider this rezoning request!

December 6, 2021
at 1:41 PM

Christiane
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Christiane (37932), December 6, 2021 at 1:41 PM

By putting 400 units on 32 acres, there have to be either apartment buildings or condos among those 400 units. These roads are narrow and without shoulders and the traffic increase would be unacceptable to anybody who lives in this neighborhood and would be negatively effected by this situation.

December 6, 2021
at 3:19 PM

Christine
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Christine (37932), December 6, 2021 at 3:19 PM

As a resident of Hardin Valley, I request the planning commission NOT approve the rezoning of this property. I strongly oppose this subdivision being built in Harden Valley. There are too many homes currently being built that the community cannot handle. The roads are not built to handle the extra traffic and the schools are over maximum enrollment. If this subdivision is allowed, that will only exasperate the problem. If the overcrowding increases, that will affect the quality of the education that our students receive. If the school district ratings decrease, so will the property values and then the taxes the Knox County will receive. Also, there is currently no community resources of our own in Hardin Valley. We have no parks, community centers, greenways or a library. It shouldn’t be allowed for a builder to build these many homes without the infrastructure in place first. It is irresponsible to continue to allow developers to make millions of dollars building neighborhoods and they have no buy in to improving the community. I urge you to vote NO on the proposal. This subdivision would destroy our lovely community and endanger lives with increased traffic on our already small roads. Please OPPOSE this.

December 6, 2021
at 5:10 PM

Glen
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Glen (37932), December 6, 2021 at 5:10 PM

See attached
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20211206171032.pdf

December 6, 2021
at 7:39 PM

Matt
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Matt (37932), December 6, 2021 at 7:39 PM

Please see attached comments. Thanks.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20211206193935.pdf

December 6, 2021
at 8:38 PM

Teresa
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Teresa (37932), December 6, 2021 at 8:38 PM

On the west side of Steele Road on SamLee/ Couch Mill are only two existing subdivisions. Chadwick Downs is zoned Agricultural. Forest Mill is zoned Rural Residential with zoning of 1 unit per acre. Everything else on these roads are single dwelling homes. The proposed development is zoned Rural Residential and should have no more than two dwelling units per acre minus any hill top protection analysis results. The intersection of Sam Lee and Steel Road is only a TWO WAY stop…not four as the traffic study says. A property owner does have the right to sell their property. However, the County Commission has an obligation to maintain the trust of its constituents and adhere to the proper zoning. Keep this land Rural Residential with no more than two dwelling units as your staff has recommended.

December 6, 2021
at 9:33 PM

Lauren
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Lauren (37932), December 6, 2021 at 9:33 PM

Please hold off on all rezoning requests that will result in subdivisions at least until the new Solway school is open. These subdivisions are being built start to finish in 6mo or less. The current stats for Hardin Valley Elem have it at almost 150% capacity. It’s busting at the seams! Have you ever walked into that building? Before approving even more developments where almost ever single house has children in the K-5th age range, please go by the school to see how children are crammed into every nook and cranny currently. We cannot handle any more development right now!

December 6, 2021
at 9:34 PM

Lauren
37932

12-B-21-SP
Lauren (37932), December 6, 2021 at 9:34 PM

December 7, 2021
at 4:33 PM

Dave
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Dave (37932), December 7, 2021 at 4:33 PM

There does not seem to be any plan to update the infrastructure. As it stands now, the traffic on this small two lane road is becoming very dangerous, not to mention being destroyed by the dump trucks running up and down Hickory Creek Rd and Hardin Valley road. (Possibly to avoid the scales). How can we continue to build homes without infrastructure? 900 houses x 2 drivers each, adding an additional 1800 drivers a day to this already limited road? My grandchildren’s schools are already overcrowded as seen in previous comments - what is to be done with that? Build schools later? That plan never seems to work. Please do not allow any more of these massive, quickly built subdivisions to overrun the area. Think about impact, families, and children before builder revenues. Thank you

December 7, 2021
at 7:03 PM

Terry
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Terry (37932), December 7, 2021 at 7:03 PM

My wife and I are adamantly opposed to the proposed 400 unit subdivision on Couch Mill Road. There have been so many new subdivisions added to our once rural community lately that the increased traffic has become a nightmare to navigate. Daily errands or appointment have to be scheduled around when the schools are in or getting out, you can't get anywhere in a timely fashion during those times of the days already. There are new subdivisions all up and down Campbell Station Rd, up and down Hardin Valley to Hickory Creek and continue on down Hickory Creek, and then there is the major developing of several new subdivisions on Sam Lee Rd. The roads are too narrow and not intended for all the added traffic, not to mention all the extra strain on the three school that are already at or over capacity. The land was zoned Agriculture and should stay that way. This was once a beautiful rural area and now is being turned into a disaster area. We don't need any more new subdivision out here!!!!!!Please vote No!!!!!!

December 7, 2021
at 7:05 PM

Janice
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Janice (37932), December 7, 2021 at 7:05 PM

Predominant concerns:
-the lack of safety and ease of transportation
-the overpopulation of our schools, which already have to use trailers
-the need for playgrounds and parks
-displacement and endangering of wildlife
-emergency services
-part of what makes this a desirable location are the farmlands and open spaces, but I fear these will also be developed
-allow planning and development to reign by going more slowly with home development but perhaps more quickly with infrastructure and parks/common areas

December 7, 2021
at 9:41 PM

Peyton
37932

12-K-21-RZ
Peyton (37932), December 7, 2021 at 9:41 PM

The last thing Hardin Valley needs or can handle is yet another shoveled out cookie cutter neighborhood squeezed into any space developers can find. Our two lane road is already congested enough, wrecks are sky rocketing as well as traffic. Our roads simply can not handle anymore neighborhoods, and especially won't be able to handle them after Franklin Shovels out another couple hundred homes. Somebody please have the interest of the Hardin Valley community above money hungry developers for once and set an example for the community and what is actually best for it. Thank you, sincerely your West Gallaher Ferry Resident.

December 8, 2021
at 6:23 AM

Mike
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Mike (37932), December 8, 2021 at 6:23 AM

Please stop the madness. For over 30 years I've lived in beautiful Hardin Valley and watched as the unrestrained growth of subdivisions and apartment complexes has steadily degraded our quality of life. Results include schools now filled well past capacity and traffic congestion reminiscent of Northern Virginia. Yet the main ones to benefit from this blatant avarice do not even live here. Kindly have the good sense, therefore, to put a halt to new construction permits unless and until supporting infrastructure can be put in place. And for reasons stated convincingly by many others here, please don’t allow this Couch Mill rezoning request to proceed under any circumstances.

December 8, 2021
at 8:05 AM

Kim
37932

12-I-21-RZ
Kim (37932), December 8, 2021 at 8:05 AM

Please uphold the zoning and land use classification in the 2016 Northwest Sector Plan.

December 8, 2021
at 8:06 AM

Kim
37932

12-B-21-SP
Kim (37932), December 8, 2021 at 8:06 AM

Please uphold the 2016 Northwest County Sector Plan.