Residents’ Town Center ideas shared; Aug. 31 public forum
Build a pedestrian bridge across Kingston Pike, make Mayor Ralph McGill Plaza more like Knoxville’s Market Square and place utilities and dumpsters underground were some of the ideas four Farragut residents said they would like to see in a Town Center during a Stakeholders meeting in Farragut Community Center, 239 Jamestowne Blvd., Wednesday morning, Aug. 9.
The meeting was one of five encompassing various segments of the community, from citizens to teachers to property developers who have a stake in how Town Center is developed.
“What we’re doing now is relooking at that area to see if the community still has that (Town Center) as an objective; and if so, what that might look like,” Town Community Development director Mark Shipley said during the Aug. 9 meeting with citizens and HOA members.
“We’ll be looking at land use zoning, urban zones and open space implementation,” said Adam Williamson, principal planner with TSW, a planning and architectural firm contracted with the Town. “We really just want to talk to you guys and get feedback.”
At a public community workshop Thursday, Aug. 31, one at 11:30 a.m. and on at 5:30 p.m. in FCC, residents can give Town Center input.
Shipley said the two sessions will cover the same material.
”Please try to attend one of these sessions and invite as many people as possible so that we can receive substantial input,” he added.
“We have a steering committee that’s going to meet twice,” said Williamson, adding there will be a lot of community input sessions,
“After we get the feedback during the process, we’re going to create recommendations (in fall 2023) for the land use and transportation,” he added.
A open house is slated for January to obtain more feedback, followed by the final recommendations.
At present, “there really is no town center,” Park Place resident Tom Crossley observed. “There are pieces that could almost be treated as a town center. I think West End gives you that kind of feel; I think (Biddle Farms) is going to give you that kind of feel, but they’re all not together.
“… How do you knit it together?” he asked. “It’s awkward right now.”
Pam Zachary, Park Place resident and real estate representative, remembered there was an original master plan for a town center before the housing market crashed in 2008.
“That (plan) would be perfect,” she said.
Marsha Brinson, also from Park Place, said she would like to see the town center more walkable.
“When I first moved here, the traffic was not that bad, but it’s changed,” Crossley said.
Brinson suggested the Town invest in a trolley system to help alleviate traffic.
On another subject, Glen Abbey resident Jenni Craddick said she would like to see more restaurants, along with activities, such as theater and entertainment.
Other Stakeholder meetings included the following groups: government/schools, property owners/small businesses, real estate representatives/developers and transportation/landuse/utility representatives.
