Metropolitan Planning Commission Annual Report

KNOXVILLE • KNOX COUNTY METROPOLITAN PLANNING COMMISSION

ANNUAL REPORT FY 04-05 PLANNING COMMISSIONERS FINANCIAL INFORMATION

UNAUDITED FINANCIAL INFORMATION Susan Brown C. Randy Massey Trey Beneﬁ eld Art Clancy III Herbert Donaldson Sr. The Planning Chair Vice Chair 2002-2006 2004-2008 1998-2008 FY Ending June 30, 2005 Commission is an 1999-2007 2002-2006 advisory board made up FY 04/05 Actual of 15 citizens— Budget Unaudited Fees and Charges ...... $434,168 ...... $469,690 seven appointed by Federal Government ...... 1,014,121 ...... 666,690 the city mayor and State of Tennessee ...... 213,279 ...... 204,778 eight appointed by the City of Knoxville ...... 692,650 ...... 692,650 county mayor. These City of Knoxville - contracts1 ...... 45,000 ...... 45,000 volunteers come from a Knox County ...... 724,738 ...... 724,738 variety of backgrounds Knox County - contracts2 ...... 59,484 ...... 29,484 3 and represent a broad In-Kind Contributions ...... 164,004 ...... 164,004 Withdrawal/(Addition) to Fund Balance4 ...... 208,344 ...... 207,426 spectrum of community E. Ray Evans Philip French Richard Graf Mark Jendrek Stan Johnson 2003-2007 1998-2006 2001-2009 2003-2005 2004-2008 interests and concerns. TOTAL FUNDING SOURCES ...... $3,555,788 ...... $3,204,460 They serve staggered four-year terms and can be reappointed. The Salaries and Employee Beneﬁ ts ...... $2,268,334 ...... $2,209,725 commission meets on Contracted Services ...... 790,154 ...... 547,510 the second Thursday of Supplies and Materials ...... 112,696 ...... 79,200 Other Charges ...... 184,450 ...... 185,450 the month. Capital Outlay ...... 200,154 ...... 183,575

TOTAL EXPENDITURES ...... $3,555,788 ...... $3,204,460 Chester Kilgore Robert Lobetti Jack C. Sharp Mary Parker Slack R. Larry Smith 2003-2007 2004-2008 2004-2007 2001-2009 1997-2005 Notes: 1. Empowerment Zone: Partnership for Neighborhood Improvement 2. TTCDA Master Plan, School Assessment Program 3. Ofﬁ ce space increased $4/square from last year Newly Appointed Commissioners: 4. Replaced large capacity and map copiers; purchased color copier

Robert Anders Kim Henry 2005-2000 2005-2009 PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Executive Director manages the MPC Staff For the third year in a row, transition is a theme for the director’s letter fronting agency and is responsible for developing Allen Alderman ...... Planning Technician the MPC Annual Report. In the 2002-03 report, this space documented the end and administering a work program and Jeff Archer ...... Senior Planner of Norman Whitaker’s 10-plus years as MPC Executive Director. In the 2003-04 budget. A seven-person management Gretchen Beal ...... Information Services Manager report, the emphasis was on the transition of the MPC organization instituted by team reports to the executive director. Ann Bennett ...... Senior Planner then Interim Executive Director Dave Hill, now Chief Operating Offi cer of the City of Knoxville. The transition term is still applicable for this year’s report, but the The Planning Bryan Berry ...... Research Associate Every workday dozens of citizens walk Tom Brechko, AICP ...... Principal Planner focus is on a transition to stability; during the 2004-05 fi scal year MPC has reor- Commission is up to MPC’s Development Services Michael Brusseau, AICP ...... Planner II ganized and grown into an agency capable of meeting the challenges of a changing supported by a staff counter to obtain application forms or Doug Burton, AICP ...... Principal Planner city, county, and region. Hopefully, we can stop talking about changes at the helm of some 40 people fi le permits, or to receive guidance on for a while and proceed ahead on a steady course. Mike Carberry, AICP ..Comprehensive Planning Manager who work in one specifi c projects. This division processes Mark Donaldson Michael Conger, PE ...... Senior Transportation Engineer and reviews requests for rezoning, Executive Director of four divisions: Renee Davis, AICP ...... Senior Planner subdivisions, and development plans, Development Services, Emily Dills ...... Planning Technician and prepares a recommendation on each Already we have begun to establish and expand working relationships. In 2004-05 MPC partnered with more Comprehensive Mark Donaldson ...... Executive Director case for consideration by the Planning people than ever before. Joint planning and service initiatives went far beyond our traditional fi nancial part- Planning, Commission. Jill Draper ...... Communications Specialist ners—the City of Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee Department of Transportation, and Federal Highway Transportation, and Fred Frank ...... Transportation Planner II Administration—to include many more organizations and entities: Information Services. Comprehensive Planning focuses on Terry Gilhula, Ph.D...... Senior Research Associate Katie Habgood ...... Transportation Planner I While each group has long-range planning. Updating city and • Knox County Schools were provided: county sector plans and the general plan Donna Hill ...... GIS Operator unique abilities and - An analysis of elementary, middle, and high school attendance zones based on building permit and fall under this division’s responsibilities, Ewing (Buz) Johnson, AICP ..Deputy Executive Director subdivision approvals responsibilities, it’s as well as special projects such as park Johnetta Johnson ...... GIS Operator - School enrollment projections for 2006-2015 for each school facility common for staff to work inventories, downtown plans, corridor Dan Kelly ...... Development Services Manager - An inventory of sites suitable for new schools across division lines studies, and guidelines for neighborhood Tim Kuhn ...... GIS Administrator - Quarterly reports of development activity data as a team to overlays. Betty Jo Mahan ...... Administrative Assistant II • The Transportation Planning Organization’s sphere of infl uence for regional transportation planning was accomplish tasks. Shirley Mase ...... GIS Specialist broadened to include Anderson, Blount, Jefferson, Loudon, Sevier, and Cocke counties The Transportation Division staffs Sherry Michienzi ...... Receptionist the Knoxville Regional Transportation Debbie Mitchell ...... Offi ce Assistant I • MPC staff members had integral roles in projects for the Knox County Development Corporation and the Planning Organization or TPO, a Marc Payne ...... Planning Technician Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership relating to economic development planning federally-required planning board Patricia Ann Phillips ...... GIS Operator that coordinates road improvements, Sarah Powell ...... Webmaster/Senior Graphic Designer • Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation was provided support in the preparation of bicycling plans, freight movement, and Ken Pruitt, AICP ...... Assistant Manager redevelopment plans within the Empowerment Zone and the Heart of Knoxville neighborhoods transit. Development Services Dee Anne Reynolds ...... Finance Manager • MPC staff organized a joint annual conference in Knoxville that brought together in a single venue the Information Services includes the John Roberts ...... GIS Operator memberships of the Tennessee chapters of the American Planning Association, the American Society of addressing staff, the geographic Landscape Architects and the Institute of Transportation Engineers Kelley Segars, AICP ...... Senior Transportation Planner information systems staff, a graphic Susan Taylor ...... Administrative Assistant II design team, a public relations • Multi-organizational task forces relating to the natural and built environment such as the French Broad Shannon Tolliver, AICP ...... Transportation Planner I specialist, and a research team. This Preservation Association, the Beaver Creek Watershed, and Active Living by Design utilized the Anne Wallace ...... Community Planner I division manages MPC’s library, efforts of MPC staff Jo Ella Washburn ...... Graphic Designer website, computer network, and various Jeff Welch, AICP ...... TPO Director community outreach activities, including • The Citizens Planning Academy exposed the language and processes of planning and development to a Charlotte West ...... Administrative Assistant I large number of participants publications and market studies. Jill Wolverton ...... Smart Trips Employer Outreach Coordinator Ellen Zavisca ...... Transportation Planner I These efforts are important links in creating a network of partners for delivering quality planning and devel- Alex Zendel ...... GIS Analyst opment services, transportation planning, and information to the community. As we continue to enhance and expand such partnerships, we remain committed to a single goal: working toward a better future.

20 1 DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY MPC LIBRARY

Development Activity construction surpassed the $411 million MPC Library Each year MPC tracks construction and mark—breaking single-year investment The MPC Library is unusually well development activity in Knoxville and records for the second year in a row and furnished with thousands of reports, Knox County. Highlights are published reaching an all-time high that topped journals, and books, including in the Development Activity Report. 2003’s record by more than $35 million. publications researched and produced Major new commercial projects recently Commercial construction was valued by MPC staff. The library is open to the at approximately $155 million, and public, and users can search 8,000 commercial renovations were almost publications, CD-ROMs, U.S. Census $145 million. material, and some journals. Business people, journalists, students, and Rezonings realtors use the facility on a regular There were 216 rezonings covering 2,820 basis. Recently published topics include: acres approved in 2004. These numbers were down slightly from last year’s counts. Thirteen rezonings were due to annexation, St. Mary’s North in Powell and added 169 acres of land to the city’s completed include a $15.8 million jurisdiction. Annexation requests were renovation of the downtown historic down 64 percent from 2003 levels. The AGRICULTURAL LAND Tennessee Theatre, the 18-screen Regal Northwest County Sector retained the top CONVERSION Theater at Turkey Creek, Fort Sanders spot for the amount of acreage rezoned More than 1,600 Parkwest Medical Center, a 219-unit this past year, while the Northeast County Sector surpassed the usual frontrunner, acres of county land student apartment building called Knoxville Place near the University of Southwest County Sector, by rezoning were rezoned out of almost 200 more acres. Tennessee, the Cumberland House Hotel agricultural designation on White Avenue in the Central City, and slated for and St. Mary’s Ambulatory Care Center A view from the Gettysvue development, looking south across Westland Drive Subdivisions commercial or residential in Powell. More than 2,500 acres were subdivided • Heart of Knoxville Inﬁ ll Housing • Impacts of Land Development and use, a 54 percent in 2004, up 16 percent from the previous Design Guidelines Population Growth on West Knox increase over 2003 Building Permits year. The number of new lots created for County Schools More than 4,600 building permits conversions. Residential building projects increased 20 percent. • Development Activity Report were approved in 2004, up 22 percent rezoning claimed 1,404 Top achievers for subdivision activity • Residential Development Activity in Knox from the previous year. Total building acres of rural land, while were the Southwest and Northwest • Directory of Neighborhood Organizations County: Listings of the Fastest Growing activity during the year was valued commercial rezoning County sectors. The latter grew 160 School Zones at over $767 million, compared to percent in subdivided acreage and 344 • Shopping Center Market Analysis accounted for 198 acres. $687 million in 2003. Residential percent in the number of lots from 2003. • Knoxville Regional Long Range • Knoxville Area Facts and Figures Transportation Plan 2005-2030

• Ofﬁ ce Market Analysis • Bicycling Comfort Level for Knoxville Center City: Bike Map and Resources • One Year Plan for the City of Knoxville • Status of the Senior Population in • Tennessee Technology Corridor Knox County Development Authority Annual Report • Tennessee’s Metropolitan and • Partnership in Planning: Development Micropolitan Population Activity in Knox County-Residential Growth

Construction in the Southwest County Sector at the Turnberry Subdivison in Public School Zones 2000-2004

2 19 MPC ONLINE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY

MPC Online TPO Website MPC’s website (www.knoxmpc.org) Additions/Improvements: continues to grow. Many topics are • Live TDOT photos of traffi c conditions on the interstate system updated on a regular basis, including: • Online review and comment for TPO Long- New Sites: Range Transportation Plan 2005-2030 and • Historic Preservation the Transportation Improvement Plan 2006-2008 • Smart Trips Week 2005 • Contact information and bylaws for the new • Tennessee Conference of Planning, Regional Transportation Planning Council Landscape Architecture, and Transportation Engineering Construction continues at the Turkey Creek mixed-use development. TTCDA Website Offi ce Market Analysis a net gain of six new shopping centers, • Tennessee Chapter of the American Additions/Improvements: Knoxville’s offi ce property market Planning Association • Online agenda available four of which were built in the Farragut/ continued to show moderate growth Pellissippi area. in 2004, with rentable inventory up 4 percent over the previous year. As usual, MARKET REPORTS MPC Website Cades Cove Planning Website A new Super Wal-Mart opened on Additions/Improvements: nearly all new square footage was located In addition to an annual Additions/Improvements: Chapman Highway in south Knoxville, • Design Guidelines for Broadway and • Site redesigned for Phase II in the county rather than the city. Roles Development Activity and plans are underway in northeast Central Avenue Facade Improvements, reversed on vacancy rates, however, with Report, MPC researches Knoxville for the Wal-Mart on Millertown Fairmont Park, Fort Sanders, Fourth and the suburban market reporting slightly Pike to supersize. Meanwhile, Target and publishes various Gill, Lyons View, Market Square, Old North higher vacancies (9.5 percent) than Knoxville, Tazewell Pike, and Village of purchased 30 acres of the Knox market reports. The 2004 downtown’s 8.8 percent. Concord County Farmers Market property in Offi ce Market Analysis MPC INTERNET QUICK REFERENCE north Knoxville, announcing plans to and the 2004 Shopping • Online review and comment for Lonsdale Two sizable local projects were completed: relocate its Fountain City store there in Neighborhood Plan, James White Center Market Analysis the 246,725-square-foot Callahan 2006. The county’s three Kmart stores Parkway Task Force, Knox County Tree are useful references that Offi ce/Warehouse Building III in north remained opened; changes resulting Conservation and Planting Plan, Heart of MPC county and the 98,639-square-foot Three compare national and Knoxville Infi ll Housing Design Guidelines, from the merger with Sears, Roebuck & www.knoxmpc.org Lakeside Centre in southwest county. In Southwest County Sector Plan, and MPC Company are still being worked out. local trends, and include Excellence Awards south Knoxville, First Tennessee Bank building-by-building is transforming an old Wal-Mart into TPO Total sales numbers showed a 9.6 property listings. a modern call center. Also completed • MPC Agenda now printable and www.knoxtrans.org percent increase, up from $6.5 billion searchable by keyword were the Century Park I Building in in 2002 to $7.1 billion in 2003, with the Pellissippi area and the AmSouth Smart Trips 20.3 percent growth since 2000. As • 2005 Excellence Awards Building in Bearden. Plans remain http://smarttrips.knoxtrans.org usual, automobile and boat sellers uncertain for two downtown sites: TVA’s • MPC Commissioners Resource Page captured the largest share of local retail vacant East Tower and the old News dollars, followed by food stores, general Regional Clean Air Coalition Sentinel location. • MPC Administrative Rules and Procedures merchandise, and eating places. www.entrcac.org • MPC meeting minutes archived to Shopping Center Market Analysis June 2001 Cades Cove Opportunities Plan Knoxville’s retail market improved since www.cadescoveplanning.com • South Knoxville Waterfront the last survey, reporting a vacancy rate process updates of 6.9 percent in 2004 compared to 8.3 percent in 2002. During this same time • Addressing and street naming ordinances period, more than 500,000 square feet and guidelines of new space was added, and there was Three Lakeside Centre offi ce building

18 3 DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY LEADERSHIP AND EDUCATIONAL ROLES

Development Partners Zoning Ordinance Changes Leadership and Educational Roles • Association for Commuter Transportation Advisory Group New sections were added to both the city MPC takes on both leadership and International Conference and In January 2005, MPC and City of and county zoning ordinances for default educational roles. Staff attended the Transportation Management Summit Knoxville staff began meeting with minimum building setbacks in cases following meetings, sometimes to make • Social Behavior Seminar a committee of public and private where approved residential development presentations and at other times to keep sector representatives to improve the plans do not specify setbacks. Also current on issues and methodology. • Presenting Data and Information: A development process. Their goal was added to both ordinances were additional One-Day Course by Edward Tufte to create better working relationships, uses (banks, credit unions, and order • TDOT’s Context Sensitive Solutions cost savings, and greater efﬁ ciencies as processing services) for the Business and Training Workshop • UT Geography Department: Geographers Working in the Planning Field development proposals moved through Technology Park (BP) zone. • Practical Applications for New Urbanists by the review system. The committee, called the Seaside Institute • U.S. Census Bureau Economic the Development Partners Advisory New in the city were amendments Census Workshop Group, issued an action plan in August regulating portable storage containers, • UT lecture by Andres Duany on Reconciling that recommends ways to streamline electronic message boards, and Town the Natural and the Urban • East Tennessee White House Conference and more consistently handle processes Center drive-through facilities. Another on Aging • State and local chapter meetings of the for zoning, subdivisions, building amendment prohibits demolition permits American Planning Association • Tennessee Public Transportation permits, and inspections. Some of for a period of time within proposed Association Annual Meeting the recommendations involve several historic overlay (H-1) and neighborhood • ArcGIS Software Training agencies, and others are speciﬁ c to MPC, conservation (NC-1) districts. • Mayor Ragsdale’s Third Annual City Engineering, and Plans Reviews & • Leadership Knoxville 21st Century Senior Summit Inspections. Leadership Facilitation Skills Training

TOWN CENTER ZONING • TDOT Transit Grantee Workshop • AICP Project Management Training A town center project is underway at Strategies include: • National Highway Institute & National Northshore Drive and Pellissippi Parkway, • a computerized permit tracking system • Dialogue Training: Working Together to Transit Institute Metropolitan Transportation and an application has been ﬁ led for one to be shared by all involved agencies Build Healthier Communities Planning Workshop near Heiskell and West Emory roads. A • customer service training for all staff third tract of land at Valley View Drive and • Decentralized Wastewater Systems • Knoxville-Knox County Annual • an interagency troubleshooting team to Washington Pike has been approved for town Seminar by TVA Neighborhood Conference address stalled projects center zoning. This zoning allows commercial development oriented along a main street or • a graduated fee schedule to replace the • Tennessee Urban Forestry Conference • Knoxville Knox County Community Action town square called the “core area.” Beyond double fee schedule Committee, Community Leadership Class this area can be a variety of residential • a review of standards (such as • Tennessee Geographic Information structures and certain types of ofﬁ ces. MPC subdivision regulations and Consortium Annual Conference • Knox Heritage Inc.’s Preservation storm water regulations) to reduce Town center zoning requires 10 percent of Network Series the parcel to be open space in the form of inconsistencies parks, commons, or plazas. It also requires a • an update of city and county zoning two-step process before a building permit is codes issued. At the time of rezoning, a conceptual site plan is submitted outlining the location Some of these recommendations, such and intensity of land uses, including the as a new fee schedule for rezoning location of open spaces and streets. Once the rezoning is approved, the developer must and other MPC applications, already return to the Planning Commission with a are accomplished or underway; others more detailed second-stage plan to outline will require City Council or County architectural guidelines, lighting and signage, Commission approval. landscaping, and operational details like the timing of deliveries and garbage pickup

Participants at the Citizens Planning Academy included University of Tennessee students and their teacher.

4 17 COMMUNITY OUTREACH DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY

Community Outreach Historic Preservation Staff provide technical support and/or The year 2004 marked the completion serve on committees for the Empower- of several spectacular downtown ment Zone, Hope VI, Hastie Park, and preservation projects, beginning with Danny Mayfi eld Park. MPC also assists dedication ceremonies for the historic many boards and commissions, including: Gay Street Bridge and U.S. Post Offi ce and Courthouse, and concluding • Knoxville Board of Zoning Appeals with the gala opening of the grand Tennessee Theatre. Also notable was the • Knoxville and Knox County Historical rehabilitation of the Phoenix Building Zoning Commissions into offi ces and lofts, and successful neighborhood tours held by Fourth & • County Parks and Recreation Commission Gill, Parkridge, and Old North Knoxville. • TDOT Long Range Transportation Plan PRESERVATION Steering Committee The past year saw rehabilitation work 2004: A REPORT TO begin on two additional downtown KNOXVILLE MAYOR • Mayor Ragsdale’s Senior Summit projects, the James Park House on Transportation Task Force Report Cumberland Avenue and the YMCA BILL HASLAM

on West Clinch Avenue. Several The MPC report includes • Central Business Improvement District Parking and Transportation Committee other buildings were either placed or suggestions collected nominated for the National Register from polls at various • Cumberland Avenue Design Review Board of Historic Places, while efforts by neighborhood meetings preservationists to save the J.Allen on priorities for future • Knoxville Tree Board Smith House on Lyons View Pike came to preservation and an end when the building was destroyed. • Knoxville Greenways Commission The Gay Street Bridge (above); The Tennessee Theatre (below) redevelopment activities. Respondents also • Beaver Creek Task Force suggested incentives • Knox County Site Planning Roundtable that would beneﬁ t historic neighborhoods, • Friends of Quality Growth and recommended • East Tennessee Two-Step Healthy Weight measures speciﬁ c to Loss Initiative the downtown area. The

• Active Living by Design Planning Committee report features a list of more than 80 historically • Tennessee Department of Transportation signiﬁ cant properties Title VI Advisory Board and their status, as well • City of Knoxville Central Station Transit as a map of the city that Center Executive Advisory Committee depicts historic zoning overlays, neighborhood • Regional Mass Transit Initiative conservation zoning, • Community Action Committee’s Advisory and structures listed on Transportation Program the National Register of • Knoxville Transportation Authority Public Historic Places. Advocacy Subcommittee Large specimen trees are part of Knox County’s natural heritage.

16 5 EXCELLENCE AWARDS INFORMATION SERVICES

MPC’s 24th Annual Excellence Awards new ordinances regulating the location Census Analysis attracted 130 attendees. This program of adult-oriented businesses in both the MPC continues to serve as a state recognizes developers, designers, and city and the county. data center affi liate of the U.S. Census neighborhood activists who have made Bureau. A new analysis, Status of the our community a better place in which MPC continues to rely upon GIS staff Senior Population in Knox County, was to live. Following a trend which has been to produce high quality cartographic published in March 2005, adding to the growing in the last few years, historic products for numerous public meetings, agency’s collection of in-house reports SENIOR POPULATION restoration was the biggest category and documents, and studies. An award based on the 2000 Census. Preparation In the next 20 years had multiple winners. The 2005 awards received at a regional GIS conference for the 2010 Census has begun as staff in Knox County, the and two more presented at a statewide went to: compare MPC/KGIS addresses with number of recent GIS conference demonstrate that the those in the Census Bureau database. retirees (ages 65-74) is Residential: maps MPC makes are among the fi nest predicted to more than Plantation produced by any government agency in Partnership in double, while the elderly Springs, a the state. Planning with subdivision at Knox County (ages 75 and older) will In addition to routinely updating various Westland and Schools increase by almost 70 layers of data—including zoning, existing Ebenezer roads For a little percent. The growth Boyd-Harvey House and proposed land use, and the city’s centered around over a year, neighborhood partnerships; the Phoenix One Year Plan—GIS supported many among these groups a restored plan- MPC has Building at 418 S. Gay Street, restored of the planning efforts already listed is expected to greatly tation house been working to offi ces and lofts by InSite Property in this document. Highlights included impact specialized that serves as a with Knox County Public Schools on Associates; the East Tennessee His- a large global positioning system data transportation, housing, Plantation Springs Subdivision community center, developed by Oliver how to better anticipate and prevent tory Center at 601 S. Gay Street and collection project (especially Civil War- Smith Realty and Sentinel Builders. overcrowding. and age-related social era trenches) and ongoing support of the services. The MPC sector planning process. Staff recently completed a study that report includes a list contains four major components: Addressing of 39 senior housing 1. A ranking of elementary, middle, and In FY 2004-05, addressing staff handled facilities with supportive high school zones based on building 5,250 addresses for new construction services, along with permit and subdivision lot approvals and newly assigned housing units as information about 2. School enrollment projections for well as 20,949 modifi ed addresses. In 2006-2015 seniors as homeowners addition, the staff maintains the GIS 3. An inventory of sites suitable for new and renters. base map of Knox County. In this Knoxville News Sentinel schools capacity, they created 473 new road Commercial: 4. Quarterly submissions of development segments and modifi ed 1,238 segments. The Knoxville News Sentinel Building, activity data Staff reviewed all subdivisions for correct housing the paper’s newsroom and 1302 Luttrell Street street names and closed the boundaries production facility in the Central City School offi cials have been pleased with on 2,127 subdivisions—part of the Business District, developed by the E.W. the partnership, and MPC has entered mapping process for creating interior Scripps Company. into a new fi ve-year contract with the lot lines. Weekly and monthly reports school system to continue this same type that detail all new streets, street name Historic Restoration: of work. One goal is to create a computer changes, and addresses were sent to the The Boyd-Harvey House in west Knox model that will be updated to do school Post Offi ce, utility districts, Knoxville County, owned and restored by Robert enrollment forecasting annually. Another Utilities Board, Knox County Schools, Bedwell; two historic homes, one in the goal is to develop a system to measure telephone and cable companies, and Fourth and Gill neighborhood (1302 and track subdivision build-out. Luttrell Street) and one in Parkridge various city and county departments. (1712 Washington Avenue) restored by 1712 Washington Avenue

6 15 INFORMATION SERVICES EXCELLENCE AWARDS

600 Market Street restored and expanded by the Knox County Public Li- brary Sys- tem and the East Young-Williams Animal Center Tennessee at Stanton and Essary roads and the Historical Young-Williams Animal Center at Society; and John Tarleton Park off Sutherland Av-

The Phoenix enue, both developed by Knox County.

Neighborhood Achievement: The Fountain City Art Guild for their

At the Citizens Planning Academy, participants worked in small discussion groups to summarize their opinions about how Knox County should grow. work in opening a new Fountain City Art Center in an old library building on Ho- Citizens Planning Academy that it is time to update our ordinances, tel Avenue, and the James Agee Park From September-October 2004 MPC which sometimes lead to adversarial Steering Committee for their efforts in held a Citizens Planning Academy. relationships rather than compromise building a new park at Laurel Avenue The goal was to explain community between developers and residents. and James Agee (formerly 15th) Street in plans and land use regulations, and East Tennessee History Center the Fort Sanders neighborhood. offer participants an opportunity to GIS hear guest speakers and share diverse The Geographic Information Systems Volunteer Achievement: viewpoints. Eighty people signed up for staff continually strive to make more Faris Eid, owner of Design Innova- the four evening sessions, with about 25 current and accurate mapping and tions, an architectural fi rm, a member more on a waiting list. analysis available to support MPC’s three of the Historic Zoning Commission, planning divisions. As in past years, and a long-time preservationist known During the sessions, participants heard the focus has been on delivering GIS for his work with the 500 block of Gay how Knox County has grown in the data to all local government employees Street; Walter Ghosten, pastor of Rose- last 50 years, how MPC is organized, over the local intranet and to the public berry Church, who is involved with the and how an actual rezoning case through the Internet. This year’s work Oakwood-Lincoln Park Neighborhood Tennessee Theatre goes through a complicated review included developing an orderly intake Association, the Emerald Youth Founda- the Tennessee Theatre at 604 S. Gay and permitting process. A developer process to map the nearly 7,000 building tion, Empowerment Zone planning, East Street restored by the Tennessee Theatre discussed costs and fi nancing, and a permits issued annually by the City Tennessee Community Design Center, Foundation. panel of engineers talked about utilities, of Knoxville, Knox County, and the and efforts to create jobs for minorities; grading, and traffi c impacts. Later, and Frank Sparkman, an architect and Town of Farragut, greatly enhancing Special Use: neighborhood association leaders and past president of the East Community MPC’s ability to monitor development The Fountain City Branch Library attorneys spoke on land use issues and activity. Staff also have been working Design Center who has helped with vari- strategies for compromise. The fi nal with Knox County Schools and the ous downtown and session explored new trends in planning, Development Corporation of Knox inner city revital- and suggestions for change. County to develop site suitability models ization efforts and to identify locations for future schools served as an advi- Comments from the class were generally and business parks. Sophisticated site sor to University of favorable, and many thanked MPC for selection models also were used to test Tennessee interns. this fi rst-time effort. Many also agreed Fountain City Branch Library

14 7 COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

MPC’s long range planning during the for the length of new construction. Smart Trips Program CADES COVE past year included many partnerships, Improvements to Chapman Highway The TPO Smart Trips program, which PLANNING both with existing community groups to address safety and operational promotes alternatives to driving alone, A planning process to im- and with city and county departments. problems also were requested. continues efforts to expand not only in prove congestion in the MPC planners took the lead in Knoxville City Council, Knox County the downtown area, but throughout the Cades Cove area of the spearheading certain efforts, while they Commission, and TPO’s Executive entire Knoxville Air Quality Non-Attain- Great Smoky Mountains served as support staff for others. Board all passed resolutions in support ment Region. The goal of Smart Trips National Park is in the of the recommendation, and it was is to improve air quality and reduce second phase of a multi- offi cially transmitted to the Tennessee traffi c congestion by increasing car- James White Parkway/Chapman year effort. The plan was Department of Transportation in pooling, transit use, biking, and walk- Highway Corridor Study Task Force undertaken to develop A 30-member task force met from March spring 2005. ing. Through several events and media a long-range manage- 2003 to November 2004 to evaluate campaigns, public awareness of these ment vision to protect the the James White Parkway extension Knox County alternative transportation modes has cove’s natural and cultur- project, which was put on hold pending Business Park Inventory grown. In the past year, Smart Trips has al resources and ensure further local review. Stakeholders from MPC did research and fi eld work on increased its partners to 19 local com- the City of Knoxville, Knox County, and a joint project with the Development panies which are providing Smart Trips that visitors continue to Seymour served on the task force, with Corporation of Knox County to evaluate commute trip reduction programs for have a quality experi- staff support provided by MPC and TPO. potential business park sites throughout their employees. These employer pro- ence. Five alternatives More than 400 people attended open the county. Staff looked at 44 sites grams reach a potential 36,500 commut- have been developed to house meetings, and thousands more which fi t the parameters for acreage, ers throughout the Knoxville region. accomplish this, includ- Knoxville’s greenways offer a great route for the Neighborhood Bike Ride. participated through MPC’s website, highway access, zoning, utility access, ing a “no action” option and both existing and surrounding land Smart Trips recently received the Bronze • Phase I network projects have been neighborhood and civic groups, and and a reservation system use. Six sites were identifi ed as high Level Award for EPA’s Best Workplaces prioritized and work is being done newspaper coverage. and/or transit system priority possibilities, while others were for Commuters Race to Excellence. This with the city to make some of the during peak season. The task force recommended that James defi ned as “promising” or “hurdles.” recognition was awarded at the Associa- improvements. White Parkway be built as a parkway Recommendations on transportation tion for Commuter Transportation Inter- • An issue of the Pedal Press newsletter to Governor John Sevier Highway, with improvements and land-banking sites national Conference, where Smart Trips was produced, as well as a brochure TPO manages this con- a full environmental impact statement are underway. was one of 17 programs in the nation to on road rules for bicyclists. tract in conjunction with receive a Race to Excellence Award in the • The Bicycle Parking Program installed the National Park Ser- Network Member Category. bike racks along Cumberland Avenue, vice. TPO maintains the at Maryville College, in Farragut, and project website, www. Bicycle Program other locations. Additional bike racks cadescoveplanning.org, The Bicycle Program made great strides are planned at various city parks and the mailing list, with this past year. and the University of Tennessee, more than 3,000 people • The Bicycle Advisory Committee amounting to a total of 300 bike currently listed. This racks installed through this program. continues to meet regularly and phase of the project will address bicycle transportation issues. Matching funds are provided by local further develop the alter- The committee was expanded from 11 businesses, organizations, agencies, natives and assess their members to 12. Several subcommittees and individuals. A full list of locations impacts in preparation have been established to work on and sponsors is listed at www. for a draft environmental specifi c projects and issues. knoxtrans.org/plans/bikeparking/ • A Bicycle Comfort Level Map was index.htm. impact statement. produced for the Knoxville central city • The fourth annual Neighborhood Bike area and is being distributed for free Ride was held in October 2004; more at bike shops, libraries, and other than 140 riders participated. locations.

The James White Parkway Bridge over the Tennessee River

8 13 TRANSPORTATION PLANNING COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING

TPO TPO works closely with Knoxville Area The Knoxville Regional Transportation Transit, and this past year staff oversaw Planning Organization or TPO is staffed the Intelligent Transportation Systems by MPC planners and serves as a trans- Needs Assessment for KAT. This tech- portation planning board for Knox Coun- nology can be used to track buses, aid ty, most of Blount County, and parts of in fare collection and management, and Loudon and Sevier counties. provide route information to passengers. Information can be made available at bus stops or through the Internet, cell phones, and other electronic devices. A Heart of Knoxville • South Knoxville Waterfront consultant was hired to assist in review- This past year, a team from MPC, the MPC staff are serving on an oversight ing operations, recommending appropri- city’s Community Development Division, committee to guide the preparation of a ate and compatible technology, and set- Knoxville’s Community Development master plan for new development along the ting priorities. In the next step KAT will Corporation, and the Development city’s south waterfront. MPC’s South City prepare a detailed network plan and bid Corporation of Knox County worked Sector Plan is being used as a resource. specifi cations for the technology. together on improvement strategies for The city arranged a feasibility study, and inner city neighborhoods, corridors, has contracted with a team of consultants TPO also has been involved in planning and industrial districts. A list of 107 headed by Hargreaves Associates to devise transportation improvements for seniors. strategies identifi ed in the past was a vision and action plan. Projections show that in 25 years, one in CHRONIC whittled down to about 45 strategies that every fi ve persons will be a senior, and at HOMELESSNESS could be implemented during the next least 20 percent of this group will have MPC staff and Planning two years. These include: stopped driving. Staff are working closely Commission Chair on this matter with Knox County Mayor Traffi c on Interstate 40: Looking west toward the Cedar Bluff area • I-275 Corridor Plan Susan Brown worked on Because of poor air quality ratings con- Ragsdale’s offi ce through a Senior Summit The team looked at several hundred TRANSPORTATION another interagency task cerning ozone and particulate levels, Transportation Task Force. TPO also par- acres of vacant and underutilized land force—the Joint Mayors’ IMPROVEMENT however, TPO recently was charged with ticipated in the East Tennessee Pre-White on the stretch from the I-275 Business PROGRAM 2006-2008 preparing a long range transportation House Conference on Aging, which will 10-Year Plan to End Park (Coster Shop) south to I-40. Trans- Five Points Village Plaza construction plan for year 2030 for a larger seven- lead to transportation policy recommenda- Chronic Homelessness. TPO updated its portation improvements, such as a se- • Burlington/Five Points county area. This past year TPO released tions to the President and Congress. Members divided into Transportation ries of frontage roads and a continuous A new retail center is underway in a regional plan that calls for a $3.8 bil- Improvement Program road system from the 17th Street exit to the Five Points neighborhood, as well working groups to lion investment in 187 projects through Woodland Avenue, were among the rec- for 2006-2008. This as several infi ll housing projects. address mental health year 2030. The plan includes $328 mil- ommendations. The team also addressed program documents how Renovation of the Walter Taylor Housing and social services, lion for non-highway projects such as environmental and utility issues. Project is proposed. housing, education federal and state funds public transit, bicycling, sidewalks, and will be spent on projects greenways, as well as proposals for con- • Lonsdale Redevelopment and Urban and employment, and • Oakwood-Lincoln Park gestion mitigation management. Renewal Plan community concerns. within TPO’s offi cial Neighborhood Plan MPC staff helped draft a plan to The plan was presented planning boundaries, MPC worked with University of TPO took an active role in serving on the eliminate blight and inappropriate land and includes a detailed Tennessee graduate students to in October 2005. resource team for the Knoxville Regional use. The plan proposes restrictions list of road projects and identify community concerns. The Parkway—a proposed Knoxville bypass on truck traffi c, buffers between other priorities. plan recommends down-zoning and/or for a portion of Interstate 40—with neighborhoods and industrial areas, neighborhood conservation districts staff presenting traffi c forecasts for traffi c calming, and improved sidewalks. in various areas combined with traffi c various interchange scenarios under Refurbishment of the Lonsdale public calming, a re-established playground, consideration. housing project already is underway. and a mixed use redevelopment program Federal Empowerment Zone funds are along Central Avenue. earmarked for some of these projects.

12 9 COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING

FRENCH BROAD Areas with signifi cant potential for conservation on public grounds (such RIVER CORRIDOR future development are identifi ed. The as schools, parks, and libraries) and for MPC continues to assist south side of Kingston Pike near Cedar specifi c types of development. TREE CONSERVATION Bluff Road is proposed for mixed use. with efforts to preserve AND PLANTING PLAN Staff recommend that the site be master Associated with the plan—and key to 400 acres of land along FOR KNOX COUNTY planned so various uses enhance each its implementation—are a series of draft the French Broad River, other and the surrounding properties. A ordinances, some still being fi ne-tuned. Key to the plan is and was part of a group mixed-use designation would encourage the call for a Knox Highlights include: given awards by both the development using Town Center zoning. Tree Foundation and • A proposed change in residential land Tennessee Preservation a joint City-County As the pattern of low density and rural use regulations to give developers Trust and Knox Heritage Tree Board to protect residential development continues south the option of building conservation Inc. in November 2004 of Farragut on the Choto peninsula, subdivisions, where houses are put the environment and for collaboration and population growth will eventually require on smaller lots (usually in a natural foster more beautiful setting) in order to conserve forests or civic leadership. some level of small-scale neighborhood communities. In order other open space that is protected in retail services and other amenities. to be most effective, • Infi ll Housing Guidelines Sector Plans and Small Area Studies perpetuity by a conservation easement. While the sector plan does not designate the MPC plan calls for Guidelines have been created to preserve The city and county are divided into 12 a site for neighborhood-scale retail, • Parking lot design standards that volunteers working the historical character of neighborhoods sectors for planning purposes, and the it establishes criteria to be used for specify minimum landscaping through such local built in the late 1800s to 1950s. In sector plans are updated on a fi ve-year determining when and where to locate provisions, such as a ratio of the addition to establishing architectural rotating basis, serving as guides for such facilities. number of trees that should be planted foundations and compatibility, such guidelines help foster future zoning decisions. The Southwest to the size of a parking area. boards to help set up, • Provisions for tree protection during neighborhood stability and pedestrian- County Sector Plan was completed Urban Forestry administer, and raise site development and measures to oriented streets. They can be used for during the past year. A new Tree Conservation and Planting funds for tree planting a wide range of residences, including protect ridges and stream corridors. Plan for Knox County has been devel- programs. affordable housing. • Southwest County Sector Plan oped by MPC staff. The plan discusses • A list of appropriate trees for various

By many measures, this area is the fast- ways to protect natural resources such settings, including parking lots, Adoption of the plan • Downtown Redevelopment est growing sector in Knox County. Be- as ridges and stream areas, and sug- roadsides, buffer zones, and along The mayor’s Downtown Advisory tween 1990-2000 total population in the gests programs for tree planting and sidewalks. was postponed by the Committee met November 2004 through sector grew by 41 percent, and school- Planning Commission March 2005 to recommend a long-term age population grew nearly 50 percent. in June 2005 with the civic vision and a short-term action interest of developing plan. Several MPC planners served as Much of the sector, which wraps committee members and resource staff, around the Town of Farragut, has been a broader base of and will continue to be involved in one developed as low density subdivisions, community support. of the committee’s recommendations: parks, and retail or ofﬁ ce space. Some of Since that time, MPC the creation of downtown urban the land is constrained by steep slopes staff have been working design guidelines in collaboration with and ﬂ ood zones, and the remainder is with different community neighborhood stakeholders. designated as planned growth and rural. groups on the plan’s implications and ways to make its adoption and implementation successful.

Development at the Westland Drive and I-140 (Pellissippi Parkway) interchange Virtually every section of Knox County has scenic roads that should be protected.

10 11 COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING

Development at the Westland Drive and I-140 (Pellissippi Parkway) interchange Virtually every section of Knox County has scenic roads that should be protected.

10 11 TRANSPORTATION PLANNING COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING

12 9 COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

The James White Parkway Bridge over the Tennessee River

8 13 INFORMATION SERVICES EXCELLENCE AWARDS

The Phoenix enue, both developed by Knox County.

Neighborhood Achievement: The Fountain City Art Guild for their

14 7 EXCELLENCE AWARDS INFORMATION SERVICES

6 15 COMMUNITY OUTREACH DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY

16 5 DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY LEADERSHIP AND EDUCATIONAL ROLES

Participants at the Citizens Planning Academy included University of Tennessee students and their teacher.

4 17 MPC ONLINE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY

18 3 DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY MPC LIBRARY

Construction in the Southwest County Sector at the Turnberry Subdivison in Public School Zones 2000-2004

2 19 PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

20 1 PLANNING COMMISSIONERS FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Robert Anders Kim Henry 2005-2000 2005-2009 KNOXVILLE • KNOX COUNTY METROPOLITAN PLANNING COMMISSION

ANNUAL REPORT FY 04-05