June 11, 2026
Planning Commission meeting

Public Comments

8 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

6-B-26-RZ

Tracy
37917

6-B-26-RZ
Tracy (37917), June 2, 2026 at 6:23 AM

We have worked together over the years to maintain our community, which we take much pride in. Our two main streets dead end into a beautiful wooded area that completes our oasis. We now fear that nature will once again give way to further development with the addition of yet more residential housing units. When is it going to end? Our beautiful trees will be destroyed and we will be left with even more housing units that will fall by the wayside, such as the many other housing options along Valley View. Once the developer is done, money in his pockets he will move on to his next project. We have to work hard to keep our community nice. We do not want apartment or whatever is planned, backing up to our community. It is not the most desirable area of Knoxville already, and by granting the right for our beautiful trees to be cleared, and more housing to be built, you are making it even less attractive. When will it end? When will nature be allowed to remain in tact? Please consider us in this matter.

June 2, 2026
at 6:23 AM

6-B-26-RZ

Deborah
37917

6-B-26-RZ
Deborah (37917), June 6, 2026 at 6:56 PM

I'm speaking on behalf of residents at Whittle Springs Park, but this is just my own public comment, not that of the entire Association.
View Attachment

https://agenda.knoxplanning.org/attachments/20260606185655.pdf

June 6, 2026
at 6:56 PM