Planning News

Featured News20242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011Press Releases
Susan Taylor waved goodbye for the last time as she closed the door on 16 years at MPC to enjoy her well-earned retirement. Susan moved to East Tennessee from New York and started at MPC as an Administrative Assistant in Human Resources. Like the office and those around her, her position changed a few times over the years, and she ended her time here as the Finance Assistant.
Gerald Green, director of the Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC), will speak on land use planning and regulation at a community meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, 2931 Kingston Pike.   Green will speak for 30 minutes, followed by 45 minutes of Q&A. The meeting is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Knoxville/Knox County.
The Knox County Commission and Knoxville City Council have adopted the Southwest County Sector Plan. The Southwest County Sector has been one of the fastest growing areas of Knox County for the last few decades. The last plan was adopted in 2005, and since then the area has seen significant growth and change. 
TPO staff was proud to serve on the team that created this video for the National Association of Counties (NACo) highlight in importance of walkability for our fiscal and physical health Share your thoughts about the video on social media.
The Summary Report for the City's Historic Resource Inventory ​Update will be Presented at the October Historic Zoning Commission Meeting.  When: 8:30 am - October 20, 2016 Where: Historic Zoning Commission Meeting in the Small Assembly Room​ in the City County Building The original historic inventory was completed in 1986, but only buildings that were constructed in 1935 or prior were surveyed. The update foc​u​ses​ on buildings constructed between 1935 and 1966.  
Ben Epperson joined MPC on August 1 as the Healthy Communities Project Manager. Working jointly with MPC and Great Schools Partnership, this brand new position focuses on placemaking in coordination with the twelve established Community Schools in Knox County. He spends much of his time in the field supporting the site resource coordinators and partners at each school, promoting healthy communities with schools at their center.
Elizabeth Watkins joined the Knoxville-Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission at the end of June. She and her husband moved to Knoxville from Washington, D.C. where they moved after graduate school. She worked for more than a year as a Regional Planner for the National Park Service. Before that, Elizabeth spent time with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, focusing on brownfield redevelopment and pesticide regulation.
The Knoxville-Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission is inviting the public to participate in a survey to assess the effectiveness of the current sector planning process. The survey should take 5 minutes to complete and is expected to remain open through the end of December. Results from the survey will be posted on the MPC website in January. Quick, take the survey!  En español también
The Southwest County Sector Plan was last updated in 2005 and is now undergoing an update.The MPC has twelve planning areas, or sectors, within Knox County. Staff members prepare plans for each sector to guide the growth of the area through land use, transportation, and community facility recommendations.
A recent UT study shows Knox area farmers can successfully compete with national producers of fruits and vegetables. Economists Chuck Grigsby and Chad Hellwinckel found that within a 25-mile radius around Knoxville, local farmers are at least as efficient or more efficient in transporting their goods to market than national producers, such as those in California, Florida and Texas.
At a time when obesity is a national health concern and it’s difficult to find time for regular exercise, the immediate popularity of a game that can get people off the couch and out moving is a welcome surprise. The release of Pokémon Go earlier this month has had sweeping popularity, getting adults and children alike walking around their cities.
Ally Ketron joined MPC as Outreach and Communications Specialist in May, splitting her time between the Smart Trips program and communications for the agency. She spent the last six years working for locally based non-profits, InterFaith Health Clinic and Casa de Sara, where she focused on community outreach, relationship building, and fundraising.
MPC staff are studying a portion of the historic East Knoxville for inclusion in the Park City H-1 District in response to a request by the neighborhood and Knoxville City Council.
Three student interns from UT have joined MPC for the summer, coming from different backgrounds and bringing some unique talents and skills to the agency
The June meeting of the Metropolitan Planning Commission marks the start of our new Planning Commissioners’ four-year terms. Gayle Bustin, Patrick Phillips, and Charles Thomas were appointed by Mayor Madeline Rogero and have volunteered to serve the agency and community to replace outgoing commissioners.
May was National Bike Month, and Knoxville’s participation showed how eager the community is to continue growing its bike culture.There were activities throughout the month with various events, rides, and classes that celebrated all kinds of people who ride bicycles. Several local businesses also contributed to the momentum by offering a discount to anyone displaying their I Bike KNX helmet sticker throughout the month.
The Knoxville-Knox Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) office has received a federal Historic Preservation Fund grant from the Tennessee Historical Commission to update the City’s Historic Resource Inventory. The original historic inventory was completed in 1986, but only buildings that were constructed in 1935 or prior were surveyed. The update will focus on buildings constructed between 1935 and 1966
MPC would like to thank our outgoing Commissioners, former Vice Mayor Jack Sharp, Bart Carey, and Michael Kane, for their service to the agency and the entire community.
Central Street was packed with happy, active bodies as the space transformed into a pop-up park for the second semi-annual Open Streets Knoxville event. Hosted by Bike Walk Knoxville, with support from the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization and the City of Knoxville, Open Streets Knoxville provides space for people to walk, bike, stroll, skate and dance without the congestion of vehicle traffic.
The sight of blossoming young plants this time of year reminds us that fresh local produce soon will be sprouting up in roadside stands, at farmers markets, and in our own backyards.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will host a Design Public Meeting on Thursday April 21, 2016 to gather public input on the Knox County SR-71 widening project from south of Simpson Road to Hendron Chapel Road.   The meeting will be held from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm.
The John Sevier Scenic Highway Corridor Stakeholder Committee met for the first time in September. A summary of the meeting and information about their next meeting can be found here.
MPC planners are working with three Knox County communities to chart a course for future land use and transportation decisions in their areas.