Plan for Central City Nearing Completion

Public meeting to review draft Sector Plan set for July 23.

When it comes to planning sectors, the Central City offers some big challenges. The area is home to wide-ranging types of development, like Knoxville's downtown core, many residential neighborhoods, the majority of the city's historic resources, and the University of Tennessee campus.

MPC is in the process of updating the Central City Sector Plan and is seeking community input on a draft version before preparing a final document for Planning Commission adoption. A public meeting to review the draft plan has been scheduled for:

Wednesday, July 23
5:30-7:00 p.m.
Cansler Family YMCA
616 Jessamine Street

Sector plans are an integral part of MPC's planning process. Staff planners use the countywide goals of the Knoxville-Knox County General Plan to make recommendations for each of the 12 sectors. Once adopted, sector plans guide land use and development decisions for 15 years, with updates to the plans about every five years.

The work to update the Central City Sector Plan began more than a year ago when staff reviewed current neighborhood, transportation, and community facility conditions in the area and prepared a background report. That report was taken to the public in a series of meetings held in 2013 that drew about 120 participants. For residents and other interested folks who could not attend the public meetings, an online survey was offered and garnered 450 responses.

Armed with the background report and an impressive amount of public input, MPC Planner Mike Reynolds went to work on the draft plan that will soon be available for review both in the upcoming public meeting and on the MPC website.

"Since the last update, there have been two neighborhood plans, one small area plan, four corridor plans or studies, eight redevelopment plans, and three citywide/countywide plans that affect the sector," Reynolds said. "We'll preserve the intent of those plans and continue to recommend redevelopment of commercial corridors with a mix of uses and pedestrian-friendly streetscapes."

Another highlight of the Central City Sector Plan will be changing the land use classification for the majority of the single-dwelling neighborhoods. Low Density Residential classification will be changed in several areas to Traditional Neighborhood Residential to recognize the unique nature of the pre-1950s small-lot building pattern and mix of residential types.

Questions and comments regarding the Central City Sector Plan are welcomed and may be directed to Reynolds at 215-2500 or mike.reynolds@knoxmpc.org.