Prior to the meeting, call (865) 215-2500 for more details or any other assistance.
General Info
Understanding the Agenda
Accessibility/Building Info
General Information about the Meeting
Meeting Time and Location
The meeting starts at 1:30 p.m. in the Main Assembly Room of the City County Building. It is also broadcast live. Commission meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month, except in October.
How Long is a Typical Meeting?
Meetings vary in length and can last several hours. Because it can be difficult to estimate the time at which any case will be heard, all applicants and citizens interested in particular items should arrive for the Call to Order at 1:30 p.m.
The Commissioners
The Planning Commission is an advisory board comprised of 15 citizens - seven appointed by the Knoxville Mayor and eight appointed by the Knox County Mayor. They serve staggered four-year terms without compensation and may be re-appointed. Commissioners are confirmed by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
Learn more about the Commissioners from their bios.
Is the Meeting Broadcast on TV or Online?
Commission meetings are live-streamed on Knoxville’s Community Television (CTV) website. Live television airings are available on Comcast Channel 12, Charter Communications Channel 193, WOW! Channel 6 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99.
If you miss the live broadcast or need to review, download, or share meeting footage, visit our video archive, which contains meeting footage dating back to January 2010.
Understanding the Agenda
Order of Business
Each item is assigned an Agenda Item Number which determines the order of the meeting.
Postponements and Withdrawals
Postponements and withdrawals are marked throughout the agenda. AP, P, or a W before the Agenda Item Number indicates that a postponement, automatic postponement, or withdrawal has been requested by the applicant. More information on the type of postponement is available on a separate list at the back of the agenda packet. All items may be granted one automatic postponement (if received by the deadline), but additional postponements require a vote by the Planning Commission.
What is the Consent Approval List?
The items on this list are approved in one motion by an affirmative vote of the Planning Commission at the beginning of the meeting. These include applicant requests, with no known opposition, and recommended for approval by Planning staff. This allows additional time for consideration of the more controversial items on the agenda and allows the meetings to be conducted in a more efficient manner.
You must be present at the meeting to request an item be removed from the Consent List.
Anyone wanting to discuss a consent item can ask that it be removed from the list and heard separately in the appropriate agenda section. Approach the podium while the Consent List is being read at the beginning of the meeting. When the Chair finishes reading it, he/she will ask if any items should be removed. Speak into the microphone, give your name and address for the record, and say which item(s) you’d like removed. You do not need to give a reason and should not provide commentary or evidence at this time. Items removed from the Consent List will be heard in the order of the meeting agenda. Once the consent list is approved, there is no further discussion about the items on it.
How to Comment on an Item
Comments on specific agenda items should be submitted no later than 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday before the meeting at knoxplanning.org/share.
If you are not an applicant and you are interested in speaking during the meeting about a specific agenda item, please sign up to speak at knoxplanning.org/act no later than 9:00 a.m. on the day of the meeting.
To comment on an item at the meeting (in person), approach the podium when the Commission chair calls for public comments. This will happen after the staff recommendation for that item is read. Groups should select a spokesperson.
Note: Each side commenting in support of or against an item has a total of five minutes to state their case. Try not to repeat comments that already have been made.
It’s important to mention that documents and letters previously mailed to the commissioners are made part of the record. Additional material may be submitted at this time.
What Happens Next?
Final decisions on most items are not made at Commission meetings (exceptions are final plats, concept plans, and uses on review). The Planning Commission is an advisory body and forwards its recommendations to Knoxville City Council or Knox County Commission. City Council meets at 6 p.m. every other Tuesday, while County Commission considers Planning Commission items at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of every month. Call Knoxville-Knox County Planning at 215-2500 for more details.
Accessibility and Other Information about the City-County Building
What If I Need Special Accomodations?
The City-County Building is accessible to citizens with special needs, and a sign language interpreter is present at the Commission meeting. Persons wishing to attend the meeting who require other assistance or accommodations may contact Planning staff to be certain any special needs can be met.
Where Can I Park While Visiting the City-County Building?
For most visitors, the Dwight Kessel Parking Garage (900 State Street) located on the corner of Hill and State Street is a good option.
Several parking spaces for persons with disabilities are located outside the Main Street and Hill Street entrances to the building.
Security Screenings at the City-County Building Entrances
Security personnel are stationed at all entrances to the City-County Building and screen all individuals for prohibited items including firearms and other weapons. Legal pocket knives may be checked in and returned to the owner upon exit from the building.
