By Mike Steely
When the Knoxville City Council meets Tuesday evening the members will be asked to borrow funds of $17.5 million by issuing general obligation bonds for the city. The request comes from the Department of Finance and the mayor’s office said that much of the money will be used for the purchase of street lights from KUB and installation of LED bulbs. Some of the money will be used for other project and the amount has already been allocated in the 2018 budget.
The council will also discuss, on first reading, rezoning a large lot on the northwest side of Kermit Drive near Neubert’s Collision Center. The tract, just east of Clinton Highway, is currently zoned SC-1 (shopping center) and C-3. The request from MPC in a split 9-5 vote is to rezone the entire lot C-3. Currently there is only one residence on the lot and future plans may call for a motel to be built there.
The First Creek Greenway, a portion of which was opened last week in a ribbon cutting, may get $278,500 in an agreement with Barge Design Solutions, Inc., for additional work.
The Finance and Administration Department is asking that Mayor Madeline Rogero enter into an agreement with the Public Building Authority to serve as the city’s representative for renovations to the Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum.
The City Charter may be amended, on a request from the mayor and Councilman George Wallace, to create an additional category of “temporary service area” and issuing special permits for outside sells in areas outside the Cumberland Avenue Corridor District.
The planning commission is also asking that a zone change be authorized for property on Hinton Avenue southwest of North Central Street. The requested change is from I-1 (Restricted Manufacturing and Warehousing) to O-1 (Office, Medical and Related Services).
Items on the consent list that may be passed in one vote include $12,250 to the Great Schools partnership for Community Schools, $1,000 to Chance House of East Tennessee, $1,300 to Bike Walk Tennessee for Open Streets Knoxville events, $500 to the Knoxville Opera for education and outreach, and $500 to Centro Hispano de East Tennessee for a flooring replacement project.
The mayor is appointing Jason Scott to the Board of Environmental Appeals and the One Year Plan prepared by the planning commission is also on the agenda.
