September 11, 2025
Planning Commission meeting

Public Comments

29 Comments for

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.

June 24, 2025
at 12:47 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

June 28, 2025
at 10:48 AM

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

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

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

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

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

Coury
37920

7-SB-25-C
Coury (37920), July 20, 2025 at 10:13 PM

Although it may be expected that residents of an old, quaint neighborhood will object to a new housing development in their midst, this particular plan is especially objectionable. It is so poorly sited that it boggles the mind. There are very good reasons why these particular plots of land have not already been developed in the past hundred years, and those reasons have only accumulated as our understanding of proper land use and careful traffic engineering have advanced.
Please open the attached PDF for my thoughts on this proposed development.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250720221312.pdf

July 20, 2025
at 10:13 PM

Cindy
37920

7-SB-25-C
Cindy (37920), July 29, 2025 at 2:09 PM

Please don't. Please just don't take this property for more development.
I understand my voice and view do not matter that much, but it does hurt my heart for more land to be made into a concrete jungle.

July 29, 2025
at 2:09 PM

Steven
37920

7-SB-25-C
Steven (37920), July 29, 2025 at 5:05 PM

I am opposed to this devlopment. Hillside development is restricted and the environmental impact to the carst ecosystem is unacceptable. Not to mention the impact on wildlife and the reduction of our urban wilderness.

July 29, 2025
at 5:05 PM

Leah
37920

7-SB-25-C
Leah (37920), July 29, 2025 at 5:36 PM

I am deeply concerned about the proposed subdivision. Clearing the land to build houses out of the character of South Knoxvilles charm will disrupt the area in several ways. First of all, South Knoxville DOES NOT have the facilities and infrastructure necessary to support such a project. Second, clearing the land will do irreparable harm to the areas wildlife and habitats. Deer and other animals depend on that wooded area. If the habitat is destroyed, deer and other animals will be forced to cross Chapman in search of food and shelter. Can you imagine the number of accidents this will cause on an already-dangerous road? Lastly, why? Why are we kowtowing to developers. Is Knoxville for sale to the highest bidder? As a Knoxville native, I sure hope not. I love this city. I love my home of South Knoxville and all its people. We need to focus on infrastructure to support a healthy, prosperous lifestyle for the people of South Knoxville, as well as its animals and habitats. The prospect of a new subdivision at the proposed location breaks my heart. Please dont let it break South Knoxville.

July 29, 2025
at 5:36 PM

Brianna
37920

7-SB-25-C
Brianna (37920), July 29, 2025 at 9:39 PM

We do NOT need a subdivision made anywhere. Building is ruining our wildlife and ecosystem down the drain. And the housing we already have is being bought up by people who try and jack the prices up causing our community to not be able to afford to live anywhere. Please stop destroying our environment.

July 29, 2025
at 9:39 PM

Kathleen
37920

7-SB-25-C
Kathleen (37920), July 30, 2025 at 11:29 AM

As a resident of Colonial Village, I strongly oppose this new development at Locust Hill. My concerns are these:
1. Environmental. Large healthy trees will be removed. The overhead canopy will be gone. Animals who use this property will find backyard In which to probably cause havoc.
2. Traffic at that location, it is on a curve and is already dangerous. Do we really need MORE traffic on Chapman.. particularly at that location?
3. Esthetics. Colonial Village is an established neighborhood with older, more classic styling. One can only imagine the modern cookie cutter homes they will want to place there. We like our diversity and our charm. We do not want square boxes for home with a twig in the from yard indicating that they reforested.
We all know what this will look like. And it is not suited for Colonial village.
VOTE NO ON LOCUST HILL!
Kathleen M.
[redacted]
Homeowner and VOTER

July 30, 2025
at 11:29 AM

Darla
37920

7-SB-25-C
Darla (37920), July 30, 2025 at 8:12 PM

Although housing is critical in Knoxville, it is imperative that your committee carefully plan for growth, as I know you are well aware. I oppose the building of units on a large, wooded acreage that fronts on Chapman Highway south of Stone Road between Larry Drive and East Redbud and backs up to the Urban Wilderness. Building will require the removal of many of the trees and destroy the wildlife pathway that is actively utilized by deer, bear and bobcats and affect the Goose Creek and Baker Creek watersheds. Residents in my neighborhood of Colonial Village have expressed concern about the scope of this development, which is on a steep hillside with numerous caves.

July 30, 2025
at 8:12 PM

Nancy
37920

7-SB-25-C
Nancy (37920), August 6, 2025 at 2:25 PM

Concerns, recommendations and questions related to Locust Hill project 7-SB-25-C
8-6-25 Submitted on behalf of residents on Locust Hill Lane and Chapman Hwy
The homeowners on Locust Hill Lane and Chapman Highway are part of a close community that is concerned about the scope of the subdivision being proposed for the woods between these two streets. Although we are not against development, we do feel this proposal is too large for this community of houses that were built in the 1940s and 1950s. Our primary concerns are attached in the PDF.

View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250806142539.pdf

August 6, 2025
at 2:25 PM

Nancy
37920

7-SB-25-C
Nancy (37920), August 6, 2025 at 2:30 PM

Attached is the Chapman Highway Corridor Study 2006 referred to in our summary of concerns document posted.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250806143007.pdf

August 6, 2025
at 2:30 PM

Terry
37920

7-SB-25-C
Terry (37920), August 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM

I have attached my comments of concern regarding the impact this subdivision will have on the acreage's cave system, the wildlife migration route, the removal of trees and its impact on the Goose Creek and Baker's Creek watersheds, and the egress and ingress from Locust Hill and Chapman Highway
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20250810131654.pdf

August 10, 2025
at 1:16 PM

Rebecca
37920

7-SB-25-C
Rebecca (37920), August 11, 2025 at 9:50 PM

Dear Planning Commission,
As a lifelong South Knoxville resident and a 25-year homeowner on Rebecca Lane,located off East Redbud, directly behind the proposed development,I respectfully urge you not to approve Subdivision 7-SB-25-C at the corner of Locust Hill Lane and Chapman Highway.
This section of Chapman Highway is already notoriously dangerous, with frequent accidents and heavy traffic congestion. There is no dedicated turn lane, making it hazardous for vehicles turning onto or off of Chapman. Adding more housing and traffic to this area would only increase the risk for residents, commuters, and emergency responders.
Additionally, the karst topography and steep hillside make this site ill-suited for development. The risks of erosion, drainage problems, and structural instability are significant, and would likely affect not only the proposed site but surrounding properties as well.
This land also borders the Urban Wilderness, a treasured and ecologically sensitive area. Development here would disrupt local watersheds and destroy crucial wildlife corridors. Deer and other animals, already squeezed by encroaching development, would be pushed into roadways and nearby neighborhoodsÂposing safety risks and harming local biodiversity.
I urge you to consider the long-term impacts on our community, our environment, and public safety. Please help us protect what makes South Knoxville special by rejecting this inappropriate development.

August 11, 2025
at 9:50 PM

Melissa
37920

7-SB-25-C
Melissa (37920), August 12, 2025 at 2:25 PM

No one in the Rebecca lane community wants this project to continue. Locust Hill already has traffic issues with Chapman Hwy., we all do. Its a bad idea for environmental reasons as well. Please leave this area alone. Lets give nature a chance to survive.

August 12, 2025
at 2:25 PM

John
37920

7-SB-25-C
John (37920), August 12, 2025 at 3:06 PM

I do not mind the development of this site except for one potential unintendended consequence.
Without the infrastructure of a left turning lane from Chapman Highway this project will lead to someones death. Left turns onto and from Chapman Highway in the stretch from the Stone Road traffic light to the next light at Colonial (I think) are quite risky.
Until whoever is responsible for adding a turn lane does so this project should be a no-go
Respectfully,
John K.

August 12, 2025
at 3:06 PM

Betsy
37920

7-SB-25-C
Betsy (37920), August 13, 2025 at 7:43 AM

Until traffic problems on Chapman Highway are resolved I dont think it makes sense to build on Locust. I live on East Red Bud, the next street south of Locust. It is difficult and at times dangerous to try to make a left turn off of Chapman. Locust is the same , if not worse. There are liability issues- building on Locust while knowing full well the traffic issues on Chapman is irresponsible.

August 13, 2025
at 7:43 AM

9-F-25-DP
Jim (37920), August 29, 2025 at 6:31 PM

When the developer 'finished' Sevier Meadows phase 1, the empty lots were not cleaned up and are an eyesore to the residents. The lots are still owned by Mesana and they should remove all of the material from those empty lots and maintain them. Code Enforcement had been notified.

August 29, 2025
at 6:31 PM