Opinion
‘Appreciation’ for local trio in ‘Advance Knox kerfuffle’
May 1, 2024 by
I want to extend my appreciation to three key people who secured a better-than-expected conclusion to the Advance Knox kerfuffle:
1) Michael Wilson of FCRGD (Farragut Citizens for Responsible Growth and Development) discovered a loophole in the plan and spoke on this at the first BOMA (Board of Mayor and Aldermen) vote where the Advance Knox plan was initially voted down.
Mr. Wilson discovered that land designated as “rural” — and supposedly limited to two houses per acre — was impacted by a loophole to increase density up to 5 units per acre.
2) Mike Mitchell, also of FCRGD, (who) went on the George Corda Show along with Mr. Wilson to bring awareness of the loophole to all of Knox County.
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Pre-amendments Knox GP a failure
May 1, 2024 by
Approving amendments to the Growth Policy Plan paved the way to reducing development densities in the Choto area, as well as placing the Choto area on the list for a small area study to take a deep dive into the transportation issues in Choto. A small area study is intended to identify tailored solutions to Choto’s unique issues.
Advance Knox is Knox County’s effort to replace the failed 2003 Knox County General Plan, which has guided growth and development in Knox County for the last 20 years. In addition, Advance Knox includes the development of a Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), which is an update to Knox County’s antiquated zoning ordinances and other development related ordinances and regulations.
It is my opinion that the 2003 Knox County General Plan has been an abysmal failure in guiding appropriate growth and development for the Choto area for the last 20 years. Choto’s constrained transportation network was never taken into consideration as development was approved.
Knox County plans to replace the failed 2003 General Plan with the Comprehensive Land Use and Transportation Plan (Comprehensive Plan). To adopt the Comprehensive Plan they had to amend the Growth Policy Plan because state law requires that all land use decisions be consistent with the Growth Policy Plan.
Voting no to the amendments to the Growth Policy Plan would have left the failed 2003 Knox County General Plan in place.
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May 1, 2024 by
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