January 11, 2024
Planning Commission meeting

Public Comments

22 Comments

Matthew
37932

12-SF-23-C
Matthew (37932), December 6, 2023 at 12:17 PM

PLEASE see the attached letter regarding this illegal development. There is ZERO path forward due to this developers complete disregard of State Law and local Rules & Regulations. Quit wasting taxpayer money defending a developer over Knox County Taxpayer's safety and concerns. This development was determined illegal by Knox County Chancery Court and this staff/commission has no authority to approve as-is. We request you to DENY this plan to avoid a fifth or more lawsuit - The first lawsuit clarifies the illegalities of this plan and the wrongdoings of the previous commission. The next three lawsuits involve the current staff and commission as you have aided this developer and Amy Brooks to, yet again, illegally approve this development against our advisement.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20231206121707.pdf

December 6, 2023
at 12:17 PM

12-G-23-DP

Matthew
37932

12-G-23-DP
Matthew (37932), December 6, 2023 at 12:18 PM

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20231206121818.pdf

December 6, 2023
at 12:18 PM

12-SF-23-C

Mike
37932

12-SF-23-C
Mike (37932), December 12, 2023 at 6:59 PM

I place my trust in you to use the existing laws as the governing framework for making any decisions related to this and all development in Hardin Valley. The developers are fully aware of these laws and if they are allowed to circumvent them by exceptions just because of their relationships, with a wink and a nod that they can go ahead and build with the knowledge that their position will be supported by the planning commission; it sets a terrible precedent.

View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20231212185946.pdf

December 12, 2023
at 6:59 PM

12-SF-23-C

Michael
37932

12-SF-23-C
Michael (37932), December 12, 2023 at 9:52 PM

Please see the attached .pdf letter/document. A summary is below. I sadly have to write again about the same topic and agenda item - this time in a new form - as I have previously - The Lantern Park subdivision. This project, owned and developed by Scott Smith, continues to be illegally pushed upon you as Commissioners. The idea is that if they keep on asking, keep on attempting to circumvent - and in fact blatantly not follow - local rules and ordinances as well as the law of the State of Tennessee, they could wear down anyone who stands in their way. Their mantra is essentially "might makes right. Please know that we will continue to vigorously oppose what we know to be right, what the judge has already ruled to be illegal, as well as what you - if you are being honest - know to be wrong. We respectfully ask that you DENY this plan before you, in accordance with, among other things, staff recommendation. It is not your job to bail out developers who seek "end arounds" established law and common sense
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20231212215250.pdf

December 12, 2023
at 9:52 PM

12-SF-23-C

Michele
37932

12-SF-23-C
Michele (37932), December 13, 2023 at 11:07 PM

It is ridiculous that the developers are greedy and after 4 lawsuits still trying to get away with doing what they want. We just want to maintain our road/entrance the way it is. There is no need to disturb that.

December 13, 2023
at 11:07 PM

12-D-23-RZ

Cary
37932

12-D-23-RZ
Cary (37932), December 19, 2023 at 10:24 PM

Sam Lee road is already overloaded by school traffic and the Knox County sheriff does nothing to control speeding motorists! The schools are already at capacity or beyond. This reckless overbuilding is insane. Show some backbone!

December 19, 2023
at 10:24 PM

12-D-23-RZ

Jim
37932

12-D-23-RZ
Jim (37932), January 1, 2024 at 10:32 PM

I am strongly opposed to the rezoning of this property from agricultural to up to 5 units per acre. 5 units per acre sounds like they intend to build townhouses on the property. That is not suitable for an area where all of the development is detached single family homes. Another consideration is the amount of traffic already on Sam Lee Rd that it was not designed for. I am routinely run off the road by tractor trailers hauling construction equipment that in no way can travel safely on this road. Solway Rd is nearly impassable due to Pellissipi State traffic and Hardin Valley Rd is also when the high school, middle school and elementary schools let out. It is time to stop the uncontrolled development of Hardin Valley without any consideration to road improvement and traffic flow.

January 1, 2024
at 10:32 PM

1-A-24-RZ

Tom
37932

1-A-24-RZ
Tom (37932), January 4, 2024 at 12:32 PM

I have serious concerns in regards to the increased vehicle traffic that building more multi family units will create with our current infrastructure. With the apartments on Snyder, the new apartments under construction on Lovell Road (US Cellular Fields) and now another possible 50 units, our roads cannot handle the additional traffic. Traffic turning on to Lovell Road from Gilbert Rd has already increased making it difficult and very dangerous without a traffic signal at that location. Pedestrians walking on Gilbert are at increased risk with additional traffic and lack of sidewalks. School traffic to and from the Episcopal School increases the risk of accidents. I personally have had near misses with people leaving the school. They fail to stop for approaching Gilbert traffic. I feel that adding additional multi family buildings will increase the number of accidents as well as the risk to pedestrians. The traffic patterns must be addressed before more units are constructed.

January 4, 2024
at 12:32 PM

1-A-24-RZ

Jeremiah
37932

1-A-24-RZ
Jeremiah (37932), January 4, 2024 at 1:58 PM

Snyder Rd cannot handle more traffic. Many residents have already had scary near-crashes when backing out of their driveways into traffic. Drivers do not adhere to the speed limit, and the city has done nothing to combat the present issues. Before approving another development they need to build the infrastructure to support it. Whether that be adding roundabouts or street lights, something has to be done to fix current issues (at minimum) before creating more.

January 4, 2024
at 1:58 PM

1-A-24-RZ

Vickie
37932

1-A-24-RZ
Vickie (37932), January 4, 2024 at 5:44 PM

By approving the east and west end of Snyder with many many units, and now the possibility of more in the middle, we are looking at gridlock on an already treacherous road. This road was fine as an old farm road, but changes made thru the decades, lack of updated infrastructure, have made it a drivers nightmare and a drainage crash game. Catlett at Snyder is an accident waiting to happen, so any ingress egress for this project would HAVE to be on the west end.

January 4, 2024
at 5:44 PM

1-A-24-RZ

Alan
37932

1-A-24-RZ
Alan (37932), January 4, 2024 at 8:02 PM

The infrastructure in this area will not handle any more traffic, you already have apartments on both ends of snider road now and it is getting very dangerous now to pull out of our carrollwood subdivision. More traffic will mean more accidents.

January 4, 2024
at 8:02 PM

1-A-24-RZ

Kaylee
37932

1-A-24-RZ
Kaylee (37932), January 5, 2024 at 4:04 PM

I am a resident the Carrollwood neighborhood adjacent to the planned development. I agree that Knoxville is in need of more housing, however I am concerned that by adding housing in the suggested location will pose a danger to current and future residents of the area due to the traffic and roadway conditions of both Snyder Rd and Catlett Rd. These roads are already experiencing an increasing in traffic and wear with the current resident population. My concern is that this new development will cause undue stress to these necessary roadways if they are not widened or addressed prior to this development projects completion. Thank you for your time.

January 5, 2024
at 4:04 PM

1-A-24-RZ

Walter
37932

1-A-24-RZ
Walter (37932), January 7, 2024 at 8:55 AM

See the attached PDF file.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20240107085522.pdf

January 7, 2024
at 8:55 AM

1-A-24-RZ

Margaret
37932

1-A-24-RZ
Margaret (37932), January 7, 2024 at 4:41 PM

There has been so many apartments added along the Snyder corridor that adding additional traffic is making a narrow road with limited visibility even more dangerous. Until additional infrastructure is created - I would ask for the safety of people that must travel that road that this proposal be postponed or denied.

January 7, 2024
at 4:41 PM

1-A-24-RZ

Christen
37932

1-A-24-RZ
Christen (37932), January 7, 2024 at 5:39 PM

The traffic on Snyder Road is cause for concern. With all the apartments at the US Cellular field going in and the number of houses and apartments already utilizing Snyder as a throughput to Campbell station, the already busy and dangerous road needs to be addressed before there is continued development. The speed limit is not followed and the stop at Snyder School road is extremely dangerous. Westbound traffic (stopping at the sign) can barely see eastbound traffic before they reach the bend. The school traffic also puts drivers at risk. Many of the neighborhood entrances and driveways have poor visibility to oncoming traffic. Infrastructure before development has to be the new normal.

January 7, 2024
at 5:39 PM

1-A-24-RZ

Heath
37932

1-A-24-RZ
Heath (37932), January 8, 2024 at 1:32 PM

The intersection of Snyder Road and Snyder School Road is particularly dangerous under existing traffic conditions. I've witnessed many near-accidents at this interchange due to poor sight lines and northbound Snyder Rd traffic turning left onto Snyder School Road before they are visible to southbound Snyder Road traffic. Please consider improvements to this interchange as traffic continues to increase with development density in this area.

January 8, 2024
at 1:32 PM

1-A-24-RZ

Jennifer
37932

1-A-24-RZ
Jennifer (37932), January 8, 2024 at 5:11 PM

On behalf of some of the families living in the Chatam Ridge neighborhood, directly across Snyder road from 1-A-24-RZ, I beg you to reconsider the rezoning and development plan. Traffic has already increased in number and speed on Snyder road, which has limited visibility in several places. We have dozens of kids that stand on Snyder road for school bus pickup, children as young as 5 years old and as early as 6:45 in the morning IN THE DARK. Many of whom have to WALK ACROSS Snyder to catch their bus at the neighborhood entrance across the street. (Wrenâs Nest subdivision) Adding additional traffic would make this an even more dangerous situation for dozens of Knox county students. My daughter's car was run off the road in an accident on Snyder road last year. The owners of the mailbox she hit told us it was the 25th time they had replaced the mailbox in 10 years. MAILBOXES CAN BE REPLACED, LIVES CANNOT. Last year we had a car run off the road and hit a residential propane tank, resulting in a neighborhood-wide gas leak. There are so many areas along Snyder road without street lighting, without any speed control measures, without curbing, and without road shoulders making accidents as simple as a slight lane overcorrection incredibly dangerous. Please consider the safety of our families children when overdeveloping areas without ANY traffic control or expansion safety measures.

January 8, 2024
at 5:11 PM

1-A-24-RZ

Jennifer
37932

1-A-24-RZ
Jennifer (37932), January 8, 2024 at 5:30 PM

Attached.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20240108173050.pdf

January 8, 2024
at 5:30 PM

1-A-24-RZ

Charlie
37932

1-A-24-RZ
Charlie (37932), January 9, 2024 at 1:07 PM

I have lived in the Carollwood subdivision since 2003 which is just east of the proposed rezoning site. During the time that we have lived here there have been 4 subdivisions and 2 apartment complexes that have been built on Snyder Rd. Snyder Rd has not had any improvements during this time and will cause additional congestion on an already unsafe road. Our subdivision has already had to have a pump station built to increase water pressure due to the influx of development in this area. Adding another multi-unit complex will only add additional stress on an inadequate infrastructure let alone increase enrollment in our already at capacity schools in this area. Please consider only approval for a minimal number of single units instead of a multi-unit unit.

January 9, 2024
at 1:07 PM

1-A-24-RZ

Brenda
37932

1-A-24-RZ
Brenda (37932), January 9, 2024 at 5:44 PM

I have lived just off Yarnell Rd for a number of years. I have been taking the long way around for over 10 years avoiding Snyder Rd and Snyder School Rd because even a decade ago, I did not feel safe on those roads. I have been a Certified Driving Instructor in addition to my full time jobs over the years and I find that the roads are inadequate at best and at certain places treacherous even now. I think it would be highly irresponsible to approve any additional housing until the safety of the citizens in that area is adequately addressed.

January 9, 2024
at 5:44 PM

12-D-23-RZ

Daniel
37932

12-D-23-RZ
Daniel (37932), January 9, 2024 at 9:08 PM

Please see attached document for statement from HVPA
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20240109210849.pdf

January 9, 2024
at 9:08 PM

1-A-24-RZ

Frank
37932

1-A-24-RZ
Frank (37932), January 10, 2024 at 10:01 AM

The Staff Recommendation on this application should not be approved. It states that this rezoning application should be approved âbecause it is consistent with the sector plan and surrounding development.â Neither reason for approval stated on the application is accurate. - Per the Proposed Future Land Use Map that was published in the Knoxville News Sentinel on 1/10/24, this lot falls within the Rural Conservation (RC) zone and therefor should not be considered for rezoning to Planned Residential. - 5du/ac is not consistent with the surrounding development. The surrounding land is Rural residential, single family residential, and planned residential up to 3 du/ac. The proposed density is too high for the surrounding area and should be rejected.

January 10, 2024
at 10:01 AM