What Do You Want East City to Look Like in the Future?

Knoxville's East City Sector Plan update is underway, and MPC planners want to hear your ideas about the future of the community. While public involvement is needed in all planning efforts, it is especially important for sector plans. Every month MPC makes zoning and land use decisions based on these plans, so input from residents, business owners, and workers in the sector is essential.

MPC planners have been working on the East City Sector Plan update for a few months and have already attended several neighborhood meetings to gather ideas for the plan.

For people who could not attend a community meeting, an online survey was?and still is?available at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/eastcity2013. To date, nearly 150 surveys have been submitted, and preliminary findings will be presented at a second series of public meetings:

Monday, June 24, 2013
6:00 p.m.
Burlington Branch Library
4614 Asheville Highway

Thursday, July 11, 2013
6:00 p.m. Washington Pike United Methodist Church
2241 Washington Pike

Highlights of the Community Survey

When asked about the most pressing issues affecting East City neighborhoods, respondents identified crime, speeding vehicles, and safety. Survey-takers were also asked about land use preferences, and most support a mix of uses on major streets but want to see better design of those streets and adjacent development. Residents are also concerned about schools, and they would like more community gardens in area parks. Transportation questions revealed a need for more sidewalks, bike lanes, and greenways.

More survey results are available online, along with a Background Report that discusses existing conditions in the sector and the current East City Sector Plan, adopted in 2002.

What Happens Next?

Based on public input, MPC staff will draft a 15-Year Plan that includes goals and proposals to guide East City growth. A five-year improvement program will also be prepared, outlining projects to improve roads, parks, schools, and other facilities. The draft plan will be available for public review later this year and will be presented both online and in a series of community meetings.

For more information, contact MPC's Jeff Archer at 215-2500 or jeff.archer@knoxmpc.org.

Posted 06-20-2013. Written by Sarah Powell.