After an avalanche of pushback and confusion over zoning changes tied to Advance Knox,the county is pausing work until Mayor-Elect Betsy Henderson takes over Sept. 1.
The work of turning the broader concepts of the plan into specific changes to properties has proven more challenging than expected. Proposed changes to farmland designations set off tense conversations between land owners and local leaders.
"Because the project will extend beyond the current administration’s term, the county believes a transition period will provide the incoming administration and new county commissioners with the time necessary to review the work completed to date and determine the appropriate next steps," an Aug. 14 press release from the county says.
Advance Knox
took two years and $2 million to complete, and Knox County planning staffers are working to turn those concepts approved by Knox County Commission, Knoxville City Council, Knox County school board and the Farragut town board into a Unified Development Ordinance.
Henderson voted against Advance Knox as a school board member but hasn't said what changes she'd like to see as the ordinance work moves ahead. She told Knox News she's heard from "lots of different groups that have some concerns about some of the regulations that are in the current plan."
She plans to gather even more community input. The Advance Knox process included dozens of public meetings and months of online public comments.
"I look forward to digging into that with homeowners, farmers, developers," Henderson said. "I'm going to be spending the next few weeks sitting down with them and kind of diving into this plan."
Jacobs said at hisMay budget address that finishing the Unified Development Ordinance would be up to his successor, but the pause means Henderson will have more influence on the plan.
Along with Henderson, four new Knox County commissioners will be sworn in Sept. 1. Two were supportive of Advance Knox in their campaigns — Republican Garrett Holt and Democrat Brandon Huckaby — while two voiced concerns —Republicans Barry Beeler and Justin Cofer.
The commission must give the ordinances a final approval.
“From the beginning, we have said we want to get this right, and we are going to follow through with that, even if it takes more time,” Jacobs said. “Since we will not be able to complete this work before the end of my term, I am entrusting Mayor-Elect Betsy Henderson and the incoming County Commission to carry this work forward. Pausing the work now will give the next administration the opportunity to fully understand the proposal, gather more community feedback, and make informed decisions about how to proceed.”
The Unified Development Ordinance and Advance Knox are initiatives that will clarify zoning regulations for unincorporated land and provide a blanket roadmap for how Knox County plans to adapt to population growth.
Growth and Transformation reporter Sophia Tiedge contributed to this report.
Allie Feinberg is the politics reporter for Knox News. Email: allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com; Reddit: u/KnoxNewsAllie
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: After pushback and confusion, Knox County pauses work on new zoning plan
