Refer to the appropriate Sector Plan for land use classifications in Knox County.
Knox County
(I)
City Zoning Districts
Code
Classification
Description
Location Criteria
Permitted Zones
BP-1
BP-1Business Park Type 1
Primary uses are light manufacturing, office and regionally- oriented warehouse/distribution services in which tractor- trailer transportation is to be a substantial portion of the operations. Substantial landscaped buffers are expected between uses of lesser intensity, particularly residential, office and agricultural uses.
- Relatively flat sites (predominant slopes less than 6 percent) out of floodplains
- Relatively large sites (generally over 100 acres)
- Away from low and medium density areas or where truck traffic would have to go through such areas
- Areas with freeway and arterial highway access (generally within two miles of an interchange)
- Rail access is a consideration
- Can be served with sewer, water and natural gas
OP, I-MU, I-RD
BP-2
BP-2Business Park Type 2
Primary uses are light manufacturing, offices, locally- oriented warehouse/distribution services, large-scale research and development facilities, office developments, and office parks/campuses. Retail and restaurant services, developed primarily to serve tenants and visitors to the business park can be considered. Substantial landscaped buffers are necessary between uses of lesser intensity, particularly residential, office and agricultural uses.
- Relatively flat sites (predominant slopes less than 6 percent) out of floodplains
- Relatively large sites (generally over 100 acres)
- Away from low and medium density areas or where truck traffic would have to go through such areas
- Freeway and arterial highway access (generally within two miles of an interchange)
- Rail access is a consideration
- Can be served with sewer, water and natural gas
OP, I-MU, I-RD
CI
CICivic / Institutional
Land used for major public and quasi-public institutions, including schools, colleges, the university, churches, correctional facilities, hospitals, utilities and similar uses.
- Existing public uses, other than parks and greenways
- Quasi-public uses of two acres or more
INST
HI
HIHeavy Industrial
Typically consists of older industrial areas used for the heavy manufacturing and assembling of goods. Heavy industrial uses include processes used in the production of steel, automobiles, chemicals, cement, and animal by- products and are viewed as clearly not compatible with areas designated for residential, institutional, office and retail uses. Substantial landscaped buffers are expected between uses of lesser intensity, particularly residential, office and agricultural uses.
- Existing industrial areas
- Within one mile of an interstate interchange with access via standard major collector or arterial streets
- Sites are relatively flat and require minimal alteration
- Sites are large enough to accommodate buildings, building setbacks and parking lots, and are regular in shape and sufficiently large for the proposed activity
- Accessible to arterial streets and , where appropriate, rail lines
- Not accessible by residential streets
- Served or can be served adequately by utilities (power, water and waste disposal facilities)
- Locate new industrial development primarily in industrial parks or other suitably planned industrial settings of 10 acres or greater.
- New industrial development outside industrial parks or planned settings should occur only within existing zoning or adjacent to existing industrial areas.
- Locate industrial parks where there will be no significant adverse impacts on areas designated for residential use
I-H, I-G
HIM
HIMMining
Quarry operations and asphalt plants are a particular form of heavy industrial use and generally located in rural areas. Substantial landscaped buffers are expected between uses of lesser intensity, particularly residential, office and agricultural uses.
- Existing industrial areas
- Within one mile of an interstate interchange with access via standard major collector or arterial streets
I-H
HP
HPHillside Protection Overlay
This classification is used to identify hillsides, ridges and similar features that have a slope of 15 percent or more.
- Hillsides greater than 15 percent slope
Applies to all; HP Overlay
LI
LILight Industrial
Typically consists of older industrial areas used for the light manufacturing, assembling, warehousing and distribution of goods. Light industrial uses include such manufacturing as assembly of electronic goods and packaging of beverage or food products. Substantial landscaped buffers are expected between uses of lesser intensity, particularly residential, office and agricultural uses.
- Existing industrial areas
- Within one mile of an interstate interchange with access via major collector or arterial streets
I-MU, I-RD, I-G
MU-SD
MU-SDMixed Use Special District
This can include designations to address urban design, pedestrian and transit-oriented development and vertical mixed use in designated areas. The areas may include older portions of the City where redevelopment and/or preservation programs are needed for revitalization purposes. Each designated area will have a reference number to a specific sector plan.
- Case-by-case analysis is recommended.
See recommended zones in sector plan
MU-UC
MU-UCMixed Use Urban Corridor
This land use consists of urban streets that have potential for redevelopment and vertical mixed uses such as shops on the ground level and apartments above. Commercial cores or nodes should be created along these corridors. Nodes should not be more than 4 blocks.
- Corridors should be served by or planned to be served by sidewalks and transit
- On streets designed or planned for redesign with street trees, on-street parking, and other streetscape amenities
- On streets capable of sustaining on-street parking along corridor or along side streets
C-G, C-H, I-MU, DK, SW, CU
RS
RSRegional Commercial
This land use includes retail and service-oriented development that meets the needs of residents across Knox County and surrounding areas. "Big box" retail, malls and 'lifestyle centers' are examples of regional-oriented commercial uses.
- Sites should be relatively flat (under 10 percent slope) and with enough depth to support shopping center and ancillary development.
- Water, sewer, natural gas utilities and stormwater systems should be capable of handling the development
- Vehicular and pedestrian connections should be accommodated between different components of the district (e.g., between stores, parking areas and out-parcel development).
- Locate region-serving commercial development on arterials in locations which are easily accessible to the interstate system. Development sites should be sufficient in size to permit future expansion.
- RS development should be limited and carefully located to avoid market over-saturation and conflict with the central business district
OP, C-H, C-R, I-MU
SP
SPStream Protection Overlay
Typically, these are areas which are subject to flooding. Such areas are designated by FEMA as the floodway, which carries the significant portion of stormwater, as well as the 100-year and 500-year flood fringe, which the City governs with various stormwater regulations.
- Floodways and floodplains
Applies to all; F Overlay
SWMUD II
SWMUD IISouth Waterfront Mixed Use District Type 2
This district allows for diverse uses and range of development intensities and forms. Zoning is limited to districts which require Planning Commission special use approval.
- Case-by-case analysis is recommended.
RN-1, RN-2, RN-3, RN-4, RN-5, O, C-G, I-MU, I-G
TP
TPTechnology Park
This land use primarily includes offices and research and development facilities. The target area for such development has been the Pellissippi Technology Corridor. Additional districts could be created in other areas of the City. The development standards that are adopted by the Tennessee Technology Corridor Development Authority should be used for such districts.
- Within the Technology Corridor or subsequent areas designated for Technology Park development
- Near freeway interchanges or along major arterials
- Water, sewer and natural gas utilities are available
OP, I-RD
