Public Comments

Alexis
37920

7-SB-25-C
Alexis (37920), July 1, 2025 at 8:03 PM

The additional houses will cause so much more congestion to our dead end street that is already dangerous turning out into Chapman Highway on

July 1, 2025
at 8:03 PM

June 24, 2025
at 12:47 PM

Ann
37920

7-SB-25-C
Ann (37920), June 24, 2025 at 12:47 PM

I live in Lake Forest and turning left off Chapman Highway is dangerous but not as dangerous as Red Bud Road. Locust Hill is just before Red Bud and we do NOT need additional driveways or increased traffic on Locust Hill. Traffic studies should be done to see the impact of a new subdivision on Chapman Highway. Also, I am told there is a major cave system under this potential development. I am concerned that this steep and forested piece of land will be demolished to create new homes and thus stop one of the corridors of the Urban Wilderness. I am very concerned that developers use huge equipment to cut down all the trees on this type of property which could be developed for one or two houses and not a subdivision. Please consider the Hillside Protection area and the beauty of the surrounding neighborhoods. South Knoxville has more trees than other areas of town and we are proud of that. Please do not allow destruction of our forests.

8-I-25-RZ

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.

July 12, 2025
at 12:32 PM

June 28, 2025
at 10:48 AM

Candace
37920

7-SB-25-C
Candace (37920), June 28, 2025 at 10:48 AM

I am worried about the trees being taken down and the road being busy. Some houses would be okay but 9 is too many.

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.

May 20, 2024
at 6:35 PM

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.

June 6, 2024
at 9:49 PM

Christina
37921

7-C-25-OA
Christina (37921), July 9, 2025 at 10:25 PM

Please find comments attached.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250709222501.pdf

July 9, 2025
at 10:25 PM

Concerned
37920

7-SB-25-C
Concerned (37920), June 24, 2025 at 5:24 PM

I am writing as a resident of Locust Hill Lane to formally object to the proposed development detailed in Case 7-SB-25-C. While I recognize the need for housing in our community, this specific site raises major red flags from a public safety and environmental standpoint that I believe must not be overlooked. Please see the attached rationale. Thank you.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250624172435.pdf

June 24, 2025
at 5:24 PM

Dede
37920

7-SB-25-C
Dede (37920), June 29, 2025 at 2:01 PM

I write to ask you to please not approve the Subdivision Concept Plan 7-SB-25-C to be located at the corner of Locust and Chapman Highway. I am a Colonial Village resident and have been for nearly 30 years. I travel this particular section of Chapman Highway on a daily basis. I believe this to be one of the most dangerous stretches of highway in the whole City of Knoxville. There have been countless wrecks and even fatalities. This should be considered before allowing a developer to build more homes right in middle of this very dangerous area. Its literally a matter of life and death. Thank you for your kind consideration.

June 29, 2025
at 2:01 PM

5-C-25-PA

E
37922

5-C-25-PA
E (37922), May 5, 2025 at 2:28 PM

I would like to strongly discourage the change in zoning to Corridor Commercial. I live nearby and in that decade there have been numerous vehicle accidents on that section of Northshore due to the blind hills on both sides. Very dangerous to turn in and out of with very little shoulder. There is no way to have a turning lane or light either because of Bluegrass Lake. Very dangerous!

May 5, 2025
at 2:28 PM

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.

July 10, 2025
at 2:41 PM

Gene
37920

7-SB-25-C
Gene (37920), June 26, 2025 at 8:35 AM

The attached file is our strong objection to the development plan for Locust Hill Lane.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250626083507.pdf

June 26, 2025
at 8:35 AM

Hancen
37917

7-C-25-OA
Hancen (37917), July 8, 2025 at 1:09 PM

Please find attached comments related to the proposed amendments to the middle housing standards.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250708130948.pdf

July 8, 2025
at 1:09 PM

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

May 30, 2024
at 6:53 AM

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.

July 6, 2024
at 10:31 AM

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.

June 11, 2024
at 9:48 AM

July 12, 2025
at 12:26 PM

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.

Jaylene
37920

7-SB-25-C
Jaylene (37920), June 30, 2025 at 4:55 PM

Id like to voice my extreme concern over the development on my very steep and narrow street Locust Hill Lane. My elderly mother lives with me and sadly calling for medical help is common. Its very difficult for emergency vehicles to turn around at our dead end. Im concerned with several more vehicles this will only worsen. Id also ask the consideration of the current setback if 25 feet to be increased to 40. There is no room for vehicles and these houses are most likely going to be vacation rentals for UT games bringing guests who have no concern for actual residents. The noise pollution will be horrendous with all the trees set to be cut down. We will need a stoplight to accommodate all the vehicles coming and going for safety. Im asking for a decrease in the houses being built fine to three. This is a horrible thing we are faced with. Thank you on your consideration.

June 30, 2025
at 4:55 PM

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.

July 7, 2024
at 11:12 PM

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

June 7, 2024
at 10:22 AM

Lucas
3792

7-SB-25-C
Lucas ( 3792), June 25, 2025 at 7:54 AM

The access road is narrow, eroding, and unfit for additional traffic. EMS access is already limited, and stormwater from Locust Hill drains directly through the proposed site.
In response, residents formally request:
A limit of no more than 3 homes, with lot widths consistent with surrounding properties
See pdf continuation.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250625075414.pdf

June 25, 2025
at 7:54 AM

Make it
37920

7-SB-25-C
Make it (37920), June 24, 2025 at 5:35 PM

Prioritizing Investment Property Over Community Needs
Perhaps most troubling is that the proposed homes are not intended to be affordable housing for local families or first-time buyers. These units are being marketed as investment properties, likely short-term rentals or absentee-owned income-generating assets. This does nothing to alleviate our communitys acute shortage of affordable, owner-occupied housing. In fact, it exacerbates displacement pressures and undermines the stability of our neighborhood.

June 24, 2025
at 5:35 PM

April 26, 2025
at 12:26 PM

Maria
37919

7-C-25-OA
Maria (37919), Submitted during the meeting

Attachment handed out at the meeting.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250718083945.pdf

Submitted during the meeting

5-E-25-RZ

Matthew
37923

5-E-25-RZ
Matthew (37923), April 26, 2025 at 12:26 PM

See attachment.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250426122618.pdf

5-E-25-RZ

Matthew
37923

5-E-25-RZ
Matthew (37923), May 7, 2025 at 2:02 PM

Changing the place type and zoning will not affect the traffic flow in any way, as the church is making NO changes to the land parcel other than adding a sign (AND CANNOT MAKE ANY CHANGES IN THE FUTURE DUE TO DEED RESTRICTIONS). The property will always remain a church and can NEVER turn into a business of any kind. Traffic flow and patterns will not change because our property is rezoned for CA. This, in our opinion, is an irrelevant argument put forward by the Planning Staff, grasping at straws to prevent our requests from being realized.
One of the reasons the Planning Staff is arguing for denial is that there have been no recent utility changes that warrant rezoning. This is simply untrue, another attempt to grasp at straws. FUD recently ran a completely new sewer line along the front of the church's property that required the removal of the church sign. That is a major utility change that has put significant hardship on the church. This major utility change merits rezoning so that we can have the sign we were promised.

May 7, 2025
at 2:02 PM

Nancy
37920

7-SB-25-C
Nancy (37920), July 15, 2025 at 7:27 PM

One issue that particularly impacts my property is that 2 houses are shown in the proposal directly behind my house. Because of the contour of the property, that is the most narrow point on the entire land. In addition, the slope directly behind my property is 28%. The distance between the top of Locust Hill to the back of my property line is 178 feet and drops at least 50 feet to the back of my property. The height at the top of Locust behind my house is 1050 feet. So the slope is 50/178=.28 (28%). This calculation was based on KGIS mapping and conducted by a UT geographer and mapping expert for me. It seems that the slope calculations should be done for each of the lots, not for the entire development parcel. In addition, the houses are most compressed in the 2 lots directly behind my house.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250715192712.pdf

July 15, 2025
at 7:27 PM

Nancy
37920

7-SB-25-C
Nancy (37920), June 25, 2025 at 6:08 PM

Please see attached PDF for full statement
I live at 5304 Chapman Highway and would be significantly impacted by the proposal to build a development behind my house. I have lived here since 1979 and bought my house, in part, because of the wooded area. This woods is wildlife corridor, connecting some parts of the urban wilderness to East Red Bud.
This area is a steep hillside between Locust Hill Lane and 3 houses, such as mine, directly on Chapman Hwy. The proposals scope of 9 houses significantly enlarges density on this strip of land. The entire scope seems far greater than what this hillside can sustain.
There are two proposed houses very close to the area behind my house.
I am concerned also about trees being cut and the impact on erosion of the steep hill, which will impact my property.
This area would certainly have been an area that could have been a protected wildlife and wooded area, rather than inserting 9 houses on potentially unstable land. I urge the MPC to reconsider the need to alter this wildlife and wooded area of Knoxville.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250625180849.pdf

June 25, 2025
at 6:08 PM

July 10, 2025
at 12:21 AM

Nicholas
37920

7-SB-25-C
Nicholas (37920), July 8, 2025 at 1:00 AM

I am typing this comment today to formally object to this proposal. While I have only lived here for 9 years, compared to some of my neighbors, I know experienced enough to know that tearing up this hillside to build those houses on that steep of a grade can't be good. Please see my attached document for more details.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250708010003.pdf

July 8, 2025
at 1:00 AM

7-A-25-OB

Patricia
37920

7-A-25-OB
Patricia (37920), July 7, 2025 at 3:34 PM

The siteâs footprint should be moved north towards Waterfront Dr. The green area should be on the Phillips Ave. side. As the diagram shows there are no trees on Phillips just a concrete drive. As with Foggy Bottoms Flats the garages will not be used. TOO SMALL!
Removing Unit 1 completely, only five units would add line of sight on Phillips with trees and green space. There is little room between this site and Foggy Bottoms Flats for Phillips to handle any more parking, some park illegally on the corners. We have lost all of the public parking at Suttree and Langford due to over building.
Note, Foggy bottoms was to have trees and there are none. Storm runoff will be an issue just as Hensonâs development on Phillips has. Not sure why an extra sidewalk is added to the plan as the city will be adding walking space too.

July 7, 2025
at 3:34 PM

7-A-25-OB

Patricia
37920

7-A-25-OB
Patricia (37920), July 10, 2025 at 12:21 AM

Please deny request for driveway at the location requested.
Looking more closely at the first overhead diagram showing the lot and the Foggy Bottoms Flats there is no safe distance or room for a driveway on Phillips Ave.
Foggy Bottoms driveway is located on Foggy Bottoms street crossing ROW. The drainage ditch on Foggy Bottom street will disappear when the road construction for the Round-About is completed. So that will be the best option for a driveway to go. Too much density on one lot.
The majority of the properties (lots) are and were single family on Phillips Ave and the house that was there was a single family home. Once the house was torn down SW2 FBC defined where the entrance location to be.

Responsible dev.
37920

7-SB-25-C
Responsible dev. (37920), June 26, 2025 at 5:01 PM

In 3 years this hillside has experienced at least 20 fallen very mature trees which shows active erosion and instability
Several vehicles have driven off edge resulting in needing pulled off hillside
A firetruck had to back all the way down and turnout in genes driveway
A streetside parked vehicle was struck by another vehicle.
Multiple kub outages from fallen lines

June 26, 2025
at 5:01 PM

Ryan
37922

6-A-24-UR
Ryan (37922), July 18, 2025 at 8:48 AM

As a nearby resident of the Westland community, we are opposed to this rezoning proposal. Properties in the area are all single family homes and should remain so. The location of this parcel is also one where higher density housing would lead to potential safety concerns on to Westland Drive, a very busy 2 lane road. We urge the planning commission to reconsider and to deny this request.

July 18, 2025
at 8:48 AM

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.

July 7, 2025
at 11:34 PM

5-E-25-RZ

Sherry
37934

5-E-25-RZ
Sherry (37934), May 7, 2025 at 2:04 PM

We respectfully request the Commission consider our request so we can replace the sign at our church that needed to be removed due to the First Utilities project on Northshore Drive.
Due to the layout of the land, it is difficult for a sign to be seen from vehicles passing by.
Granting our request would enable us to let the community know we are there and still open.
The sign we would like is not ostentatious, nor would it be an eyesore to our community. It would allow us to keep members and visitors informed of upcoming meetings and events without having to place large banners near the road.
I have had many people ask if our church was still open because we don't have a sign now.
May God bless you as you strive to make Knoxville an even better place to live.

May 7, 2025
at 2:04 PM

Tiana
37920

7-SB-25-C
Tiana (37920), June 24, 2025 at 7:38 PM

A steep-slope development is planned on parcel 123FA003,Âone of the highest, most unstable peaks along Chapman Highway. The narrow access road is already eroding, unsafe for EMS, and unfit for more traffic or housing. The developer began clearing land without permits, cutting old-growth trees, and misleading neighbors about his intentions.
This is not affordable housing, its a high-risk project that endangers homes, wildlife, and Knoxvilles greenbelt.
Read the full letter and join us in demanding responsible, transparent planning
Your voice matters. Lets protect our hill
- Tiana Winter
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250624193820.pdf

June 24, 2025
at 7:38 PM

Tom
37914

7-C-25-OA
Tom (37914), July 7, 2025 at 3:49 PM

These amendments are appropriate for clarifying the middle housing (MH) code. The goal of this code is to allow structures that fit and complement neighborhoods with marginally increased density, not cram as much as possible into any lot. The non-conforming lot of record change is imperative as it currently seems to make the lot width requirements null and void. Because the MH code allows more density, it makes sense for it to be the only principal use of a lot. The Design Review Board makes a lot of sense to hear appeals of any staff determinations since they already review cases that are mostly design oriented and understand the context of city neighborhoods well.

July 7, 2025
at 3:49 PM

Tracy
37920

7-SB-25-C
Tracy (37920), June 27, 2025 at 1:51 PM

Please see attached about the concerns of this proposed development.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250627135144.pdf

June 27, 2025
at 1:51 PM

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.

June 3, 2024
at 1:45 AM

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

June 11, 2024
at 9:52 AM