July 9, 2026
Planning Commission meeting

Public Comments

10 Comments for

Brittany
37917

4-A-26-OB
Brittany (37917), May 5, 2026 at 10:22 PM

Please do not approve this development. It adds absolutely no character to Knoxville and will further degrades the city scape. The design needs to be completely redone.

May 5, 2026
at 10:22 PM

4-A-26-OB

Douglas
37917

4-A-26-OB
Douglas (37917), May 6, 2026 at 10:45 AM

These plans are terrible. I agree with a previous comment which states that planning needs to insist on SW-5 and SW-6 zoning rules be complied with. There are very good reasons for these rules that were discussed with and approved by the community. This is an important and very prominent location that deserves special attention and long term thinking. I also didn't see any traffic planning associated with this development or reasoning why an active retirement community needs to be placed on top of a hill. Are there no more flat, street level locations in all of Knoxville?

May 6, 2026
at 10:45 AM

4-A-26-OB

Melissa
37917

4-A-26-OB
Melissa (37917), May 11, 2026 at 11:13 AM

A comment critique of public engagement on development projects is that it fails to engage potential residents who would benefit from the project, biasing against the project. I would love to live in this area in a 55+ community (I'm currently eligible and very interested!) that is designed for pedestrian, bus and bicycle transportation. I would go car-free if I lived there. I am a potential future beneficiary of a Yes on this. I disagree with the comments that raise the issue of traffic or assert no more multi-family housing should be built.
However, I agree with the points raised in many of these comments about the visual prominence of the site and its importance to future designs according with the VP. I support the statement submitted by the South Waterfront Advisory and Advocacy Group on May 10.
I want to live here, but I want it to be as good for the community as possible because I want my future neighborhood to be strong, knitted together, and appreciative of the building where I live.

May 11, 2026
at 11:13 AM

4-A-26-OB

Josh
37917

4-A-26-OB
Josh (37917), May 11, 2026 at 7:49 PM

I am not a resident of south Knoxville currently, and haven't been in about 15 years. I have lived in Knoxville since 2005, and have seen quite a bit of change in this city. Much of this change has been good, but much has not. A trend in the past several years has been to allow developments like this, and I do not believe this has been positive. I have been relatively pleased by the sprucing up Sevier Ave has received, and I believe this development would NOT be a positive addition, in fact quite the opposite. As such, I hope that this variance is not approved and that this project is not approved.

May 11, 2026
at 7:49 PM

4-A-26-OB

Aaron
37917

4-A-26-OB
Aaron (37917), May 12, 2026 at 1:43 PM

See attached.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20260512134309.pdf

May 12, 2026
at 1:43 PM

4-A-26-OB

Jessica
37917

4-A-26-OB
Jessica (37917), May 13, 2026 at 10:54 AM

I am writing in opposition of the Kerbela Development Proposal on the South Knoxville waterfront. The last several years have brought numerous apartments and townhouse style homes, most of them being unsightly and thrown together. Aside from this project breaking codes, the design is an eyesore. Additionally this will cause traffic (which is already bad) to be a nightmare. Why is our city okay with the idea of allowing an out of town developer to break the codes our citizens worked so hard to create with a dismal building that in 15 years will look like garbage? Please listen to your citizens and do not let this pass. We love our waterfront and skyline. This is one of the few beautiful features of Knoxville we have left. Also, please leave the ghost steps as they're a part of Knoxville's history. Instead of this apartment complex, a park would fit wonderfully in this space. It would be appreciated by everyone and not create a worse environment for those in South Knoxville. Thank you for your time.

May 13, 2026
at 10:54 AM

7-B-26-RZ

Chase
37917

7-B-26-RZ
Chase (37917), June 5, 2026 at 8:01 AM

Industrial mixed used is great, but multi family rentals is not what this neighborhood needs. Based on community interactions that I have had, I recognize that people want homeowners; individuals who have a vested interest in the community. Renters often do not have this attachment, and do not represent the wishes of the community in both aesthetics and local integrity.

I'm actually familiar with the builder, and am also cognizant of the needs of rental properties to accommodate the expanding population. But low effort multi family homes are not the solution. Over the last 5 years I have seen this area grow into a really great community that is respecting the land and each other. I have identified this as the property owners efforts and wishes.

June 5, 2026
at 8:01 AM

4-A-26-OB

John
37917

4-A-26-OB
John (37917), June 9, 2026 at 8:38 PM

If this development acts as a hindrance to pedestrian and cyclist connectivity, the city must deny this proposal. This is entirely contradictory to the communal efforts to better connect South Knoxville, and the city as a whole, by means of accessibility without motor vehicles. A gated residential property has no business being so close to an urban center of a growing city.

June 9, 2026
at 8:38 PM

4-A-26-OB

Aaron
37917

4-A-26-OB
Aaron (37917), June 10, 2026 at 10:13 PM

YES! Knoxville believes that this development should be required to provide guaranteed and legally-enforceable public access through the site for pedestrians. We also encourage the developer to consider taking full advantage of the density allowed in the SW districts, in which they are working, because, in addition to being (presumably) more financially viable for the project, the increased tax base, decreased carbon emissions per housing unit, shorter commutes, and increased walkability will benefit the current and future residents of Knoxville.

June 10, 2026
at 10:13 PM

4-A-26-OB

Brad
37917

4-A-26-OB
Brad (37917), June 25, 2026 at 10:59 AM

There are many opportunities for this site to be better engaged with the community and intent of the SW code while accomodating the slope. The center of the building where they've proposed the leasing one story space should be removed and incorporated into a central corridor that is open to the public. Commercial spaces that act as an inviting path and connector between the hillside connector and mimosa avenue, Kerns, and Rail to Trail. To accomodate this, building the building taller. This would give a purpose to the stairs which currently dead end into fencing to the enclosed apartment spaces. This can be done well. The architecture is mediocre, but small improvements to the connectivity will go a long way. I'm glad that it has more stone/solid exterior material. Needs to have more architectural interest and a more diverse building style. More external connections, townhouse style units on the lower levels would help a lot on this connecting to the neighborhood as well.

June 25, 2026
at 10:59 AM