Povlin reacts as County shares 20-year ‘land, trans’ plans
Farragut’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen was introduced to key players of “Advance Knox,” Knoxville-Knox County Planning’s comprehensive update of its Land Use Plan during a called workshop Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 11.
When completed over the next 18 months, Advance Knox will offer a guide for the County’s land use and transportation decisions for the next two decades, according to a Knox County press release.
Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, who spoke at the workshop, launched the process last year.
“It’s been 20 years since Knox County updated its land use plan,” Jacobs said at the start of the workshop. “The plan will include not only land use, but transportation and a master parks plan. Of course, Farragut is an important partner, an important community stakeholder and we look forward to working with you all.
“We will also be reconvening the growth policy committee to discuss and amend that document,” he added.
“We are looking to do a few things with this comprehensive planning process, since it’s been a while since this has been undertaken for the county area,” said Allison Fluitt of Kimley-Horne & Associates, who is working with Cathy Olson, project engineer with Advance Knox, to lead the project.
“We see this as a chance to look at a blueprint, establishing that blueprint for the county, in terms of setting some goals and understanding what those goals should be, as well as also understanding action items — how can we make this into an actionable plan for the county?” she added. “And to do that, really functioning as a compass for local decision making.
“We want this to be a tool. Something that is data driven, but informed by members of the public, as we come into things, such as capital improvements, decisions on rezoning and things like that. What is first and foremost in this process, is to see this as a communication tool.”
“This is a big project and I want it to be successful,” Jacobs stated in the release. “I encourage people to apply to ensure broad community representation and lots of diverse ideas.”
Povlin on transportation
As transportation was a key topic, “We’ve been paying attention to our transportation plan,” Farragut Vice Mayor Louise Povlin said during a time of commentary, as she showed some prepared slides of Farragut and surrounding areas.
“I sat down a couple of weeks ago and looked through the history of what we have done and where we are today,” she added. “This is basically our Farragut area transportation network – Farragut, Choto and the Woody Drive area. Those are the folks attending our Farragut schools, that is our community.
“We’ve built a pretty good transportation network. …. and strategically, have widened many of our roads. We have two state highways that meet each other in the heart of our Town.”
In looking at Canton Hollow, Choto and the Woody Road area, “Canton Hollow, is funded to be improved, but once that is done, the missing key piece will be a sidewalk and trail section for Loop Road and Woody Drive,” Povlin said.
“… What what we value, what we really invest in our community, is our sidewalks, our parks and our trails. In 30 years, we’ve connected quite a bit, and are always looking for ways to connect more, where can we connect, that Knox County can connect into,” she added.
“Choto has two ways out — through McFee/Boyd Station and Virtue, and Northshore; Northshore is minor arterial. In my estimation, there are some safety and efficiency issues that need to be addressed in the Choto section, coming out to Concord circle; and the loop Road/Woody drive, key east west connector for us.”
The Vice Mayor also pointed out “a nice opportunity to finish that out, and possibly [add] a light at Canton Hollow and Loop Road/Woody Drive. That would offer us the opportunity to have another, better way to travel instead of having it all come to the heart of our town and try to give [residents] different opportunities to just get to the highway.
“I will say this; we are running out of opportunities to connect,” she added. “The idea we would start widening some our arterials, makes me very nervous.
“I pulled up TPO 2045. One project, Kingston Pike widening — proposes widening from four lanes and a continuous center lane, to six lanes and a continuous center lane, from Smith Road to Campbell Station Road. That’s scheduled out for 2040, so that might be off in the distance, maybe it won’t happen. I can only hope that it won’t.”
Also considering those near Farragut Town limits, “I believe a lot of people in Choto, Woody Drive believe they are in Farragut, but they really do need to be part of this conversation,” Povlin said.
About school overcrowding, the Vice Mayor asked, “At what point are you looking at new high schools, new middle schools? The parents would like to have that information.”
Useful citizen information
Three phases of workshops and online input are planned, beginning in March. Subsequent rounds will take place later this fall and during early 2023, according to information shared during the workshop.
“Advanceknox.org will house all project information, including news updates, a timeline, upcoming meeting information, opportunities to get involved and contact information for the project team,” the County release also stated.
For more information, contact the project team at advanceknox@knoxplanning.org.
