Letters to the Editor
Pre-amendments Knox GP a failure
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.
When Knox County released their initial draft of their Comprehensive Plan in October 2023, I studied it. Interestingly, Knox County’s Comprehensive Plan has concepts that are similar to the Town of Farragut’s Comprehensive Plan, including a future land use map.
Having served on Farragut’s Municipal Planning Commission for the last 10 years, I was already comfortable with navigating such a plan.
Given my experience and knowledge and the long-standing relationships I have established with Knox County elected officials and staff during the last eight years, I was uniquely positioned to effectively advocate for the Choto and Concord areas. During the last several months, I was able to successfully advocate to reduce the density as initially proposed on the future land use map in the Choto and Concord areas and have Choto added to the list of small area studies to study the fragile Choto transportation network.
The Comprehensive Land Use and Transportation Plan adopted by the Knox County Commission last week provides the County Commissioners with a tool to better guide growth. I hope that each County Commissioner digs into this plan and uses it to protect their respective districts.
The time and effort on my part that went into advocating for southwest Knox County was extensive. Although Concord and Choto are not in the corporate boundaries of the Town of Farragut, they are part of the Farragut community. Development outside our boundaries does impact Farragut and the Farragut area transportation network.
The Town values quality of life and tries to address safety and capacity issues in our transportation network. Addressing those concerns beyond our boundaries requires a collaborative and cooperative relationship with Knox County. Helping Knox County move beyond the failed 2003 Knox County General Plan was key in bringing the needed attention to the Choto area.
Vice Mayor Louise Povlin
Town of Farragut
