August 14, 2025
Planning Commission meeting

Public Comments

14 Comments for
Cameron
37912
8-I-25-RZ
Cameron (37912), July 12, 2025 at 12:32 PM
I live across the street and I am a land surveyor so I understand the rules and regulations for rezoning. If the intention is to build a second single family dwelling on the property after subdividing the lot in two. The driveway access need to permitted off of Peltier Rd and or a shared easement established via 1623 Peltier and not Wilson rd. The property sits on a blind curve in the last year there have been 4 major accidents 2 of which resulted in cars being towed out of my yard. There is zero line of sight and people speed down Wilson road habitually.
Homeowners, Westland Bay
37922
6-A-24-UR
Homeowners, Westland Bay (37922), July 12, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Comment 11 is from someone who lives in 37932, not even in our neighborhood, and yet wants to comment on something that will not affect her personally. She callously disregards the valid concerns of people who do live here.
Despite the MPC staffs claim to the contrary, property values on our street will fall significantly if 4 townhomes (2 duplexes) are crowded on one small lot at the entrance of our street.
Just because the MPCs future land use plans envision different types of housing in new subdivisions, it does not justify crowding duplex townhomes on a street that has had only widely spaced out single-family houses for 37 years.
Also, planting trees along the curb will not prevent people from parking on our narrow street to get to these townhomes, creating difficulties for emergency vehicles, making it difficult for us to turn onto our street, and obscuring clear sight of Westland before turning onto this busy street. If approved, a fence is a must.
We request the application be denied. Approving it will drastically alter the long-established character of the street, in addition to creating the critical problems mentioned above and in the first 10 comments. Thank you.
Emily
37777
6-A-24-UR
Emily (37777), July 10, 2025 at 2:41 PM
The proposed development is in a planned growth area. Per Knox County's own policies, "The purposes of the Planned Growth Area designation are to encourage a reasonably compact pattern of development, promote expansion of the Knox County economy, offer a wide range of housing choices, and coordinate the action of the public and private sectors, particularly with regard to provision of adequate roads, utilities, schools, drainage and other public facilities and services." The proposed development will house a total of four families on 1.30 acres. This development is not going to change the overall character of the neighborhood. The plan is modest and comports with the county's policies and vision for future housing choices. I strongly support this plan.
Sarah
37932
6-A-24-UR
Sarah (37932), July 7, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Im writing to express my strong support for the proposal.
Single-family zoning has been the default for decades, but we now know that gentle density can help address housing shortages, reduce sprawl, and create more walkable, vibrant neighborhoods. This project wont disrupt the character of the community; instead, it will allow another household (perhaps a young family, retirees, or essential workers) to live in a neighborhood they otherwise couldnt afford.
Critics often fear change, but duplexes arent overdevelopment they are a modest, sensible way to add housing without drastically altering the area. Many thriving communities mix single-family homes with duplexes and small apartments seamlessly. This project is an opportunity to move beyond outdated zoning norms that exclude people and drive up costs.
I urge the Commission to approve this project. Lets welcome housing options that make our community more accessible, resilient, and dynamic.
Jennifer
37922
6-A-24-UR
Jennifer (37922), July 7, 2024 at 11:12 PM
Duplexes are "Uses Permitted on Review" and NOT a guaranteed land use based on our Knox County zoning regulations, as I understand it. This portion of Westland Drive has NO multi-family residences and I strongly believe it should remain single family only! The presence of duplexes will lower adjacent housing values and that is not fair to the many people who have lived here a very long time. Just because we are in an overall planned growth area does not mean we need to jam in several multi-family units on lots designated for a single family home. Westland has already endured the addition of a significant number of multifamily units at the Pellissippi, Westland exchange. Being "consistent" with the comprehensive plan is vague and insufficient reasoning in the staff recommendation. In actuality it is entirely inconsistent with our neighborhood along Westland. I respectfully request denial of this proposed land use.
Homeowners on Westland Bay Drive
37922
6-A-24-UR
Homeowners on Westland Bay Drive (37922), July 6, 2024 at 10:31 AM
Homeowners on Westland Bay Drive request the MPC to deny the application for all the reasons mentioned in the 8 prior comments.

However, if the MPC supports the staff recommendation to approve with conditions, please add another condition that the staff overlooked.

A fence is needed along the west side of the duplexes to ensure that construction trucks do not park on our private street. If they do, they will block access to emergency vehicles, delivery trucks, trash pick-up, etc. because our street is unusually narrow.

Also, the fence needs to be designed to prevent parking on our private street later by guests or workers coming to the duplexes. In addition to impeding access to our street if they park near the end, the county needs to ensure that no one other than legitimate visitors to our private street be allowed to park on it.

The fence should continue at a right angle along the south side of the lot to discourage visitors to the duplexes from parking on our street and simply walking around the fence. It should be set back a bit so as not to obscure the view of the traffic on Westland from the end of our street. All this should be a critical requirement for the approval process.
Westland Bay Homeowners
37922
6-A-24-UR
Westland Bay Homeowners (37922), June 11, 2024 at 9:52 AM
We request that the application (6-A-24-UR) be denied, not only for all the concerns expressed so far, but because of possible future development on Westland Bay by the applicant. It is likely that he is considering buying the large wooded tract on our street. He has already had it surveyed. It is also possible that he may buy the property at 1216 Westland Bay which the owner has tried selling many times. His plan may be to cram all this area with duplexes, which could result in about 20 duplexes at the small size he is planning. This may explain why he calls a plan for 2 duplexes and 1 ranch house a 'subdivision.' It would mean about 40 new families on a street where there have been only 9 single-family homes for 35 years. The homeowners on Westland Bay do not want a developer to encroach on our peaceful neighborhood with duplexes (possibly a string of them to come) and destroy the quiet character and the natural beauty of our single-family residential street. (Please read further details and concerns in the attachment.)
View Attachment
https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20240611095224.pdf
Homeowners Westland Bay
37922
6-A-24-UR
Homeowners Westland Bay (37922), June 11, 2024 at 9:48 AM
We agree with previously expressed concerns and hope the MPC will deny the application. But if the MPC decides to approve the project, we ask that it be a conditional approval with the following requirements added to previous requests.
The plan for the duplexes needs to be turned around (180 degrees, west to east) so that the 2 duplexes connect directly with the gravel driveway proposed for the third property. There is no need for a second, concrete driveway. This change will reduce the serious safety issues in turning onto Westland Drive from Westland Bay.
The garage for Lot 1 should be moved from its proposed location northwest of the house to southeast of the house to connect directly with the gravel driveway.
No trees along Westland Bay (bordering all three lots) should be cut.
The suggested wooden fence along Westland Bay should be about 6 feet tall and should not end at Westland Drive. To avoid people walking around the fence in either direction, the fence should turn at a right angle at Westland Drive, run along Westland Drive, and end at the gravel driveway.

Jim and Cheryl
37922
6-A-24-UR
Jim and Cheryl (37922), June 7, 2024 at 10:22 AM
Please see the attached letter which expresses our concerns with the proposed subdivision plan.
View Attachment
https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20240607102219.pdf
Chris
37922
6-A-24-UR
Chris (37922), June 6, 2024 at 9:49 PM
We live on Westland Bay Drive, the private road immediately west of the proposed Dream Subdivision; and we would like to express two general concerns with the concept plan.
First, as planned, the separation between Westland Bay Drive (serving 9 residences) and the proposed 25' access easement (serving 5 dwelling units) appears inadequate. For safety purposes, rather than abandoning the existing driveway on the eastern side of the proposed subdivision, it should be utilized as the shared driveway for all 5 of the units in the new subdivision.
Second, to help discourage use of our private road as access and parking for the proposed subdivision, a fence or other permanent barrier should be required along the entire boundary of the proposed Lots 1, 2 and 3 with Westland Bay Drive.
William C & Deborah J
37922
6-A-24-UR
William C & Deborah J (37922), June 6, 2024 at 6:31 PM
See attached letter expressing our concerns regarding this proposed development. Hoping the commissioners will take these into consideration when the time comes to vote on this measure. William C. & Deborah J. Hall
View Attachment
https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20240606183144.pdf
Wayne
37922
6-A-24-UR
Wayne (37922), June 3, 2024 at 1:45 AM
For more than 80 years residents in the immediate vicinity have fostered and developed single family residences. Sector Plans reflected community desires to maintain the single family heritage of this neighborhood. During rezoning we requested single family residential be maintained. Now, duplexes are being allowed in this zone, but that doesn't account for the character and history of this neighborhood. Allowing duplexes on this property establishes an unwanted and devaluing standard for this area of Westland Drive that should not be allowed. The Planning process should accomodate the historical legacy of this area, as Planning is the last bastion available to preserve the single family residential character of this neighborhood. The Immediate neighbors oppose such a degradation of development and request the single family character of our neighborhood be maintained.
Homeowners on Westland Bay Drive
37922
6-A-24-UR
Homeowners on Westland Bay Drive (37922), May 30, 2024 at 6:53 AM
The proposed driveway is right next to Westland Bay Drive. Even now it is not easy to turn onto Westland, and with cars and SUVs parked on the proposed driveway, the view of the oncoming, speeding traffic will be seriously jeopardized and will create a ripe situation for accidents.
Approving this project will cause economic harm to homeowners on Westland Bay. Most people don't wish to buy a single-family home on a street that also has duplexes, so selling a house will be near impossible. Even cutting the trees that edge that property next to Westland Bay (where the proposed driveway is located) will reduce the economic value of all the homes on our street.
We very much hope the Planning Commission will deny the request based on these serious safety and economic concerns.
If however the MPC disregards these valid concerns and approves the application, please at least require that the plan is turned around so that the driveway is not next to Westland Bay but on the opposite side where the previous driveway was located, to avoid the serious safety issues. Please also require that the trees along our road not be cut, to somewhat mitigate the economic concerns of the homeowners on the street.


View Attachment
https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20240530065326.pdf
Carrie
37922
6-A-24-UR
Carrie (37922), May 20, 2024 at 6:35 PM
If this property is zoned for single family, then it should STAY single family. There are no duplexes in this area. Duplexes are not needed and they look trashy. It’s bad enough that townhouses are being built on this road.