Major real estate developments heard at city council
By Mike Steely
Senior Writer
steelym@knoxfocus.com
A motion to add $4.2 million to fund the Western Heights Phase III improvements passed easily during Tuesday’s meeting of the Knoxville City Council where real estate development issues dominated the four-hour meeting.
The appeal of a special use permit issued to Mike Stevens Homes to build a tall townhouse on four lots on Horizon Drive in Northshore Town Center was denied. William Burton sought the appeal of a planning commission decision to allow the development in the RN-3 zone.
Some Northshore Center residents object to the height of the proposed building because the tall structure will block the views that were promised to them in previous purchase contracts. Councilman Andrew Roberto asked if the city could enforce promises made in contracts and council attorney Rob Frost replied it could not. The appeal was denied.
The Overlook Owners Association appealed a proposed development on West Hill Avenue and Locust Street. The development had been approved by the Design Review Board and Knoxville/Knox County Planning.
Attorney Daniel Sanders represented the group and called the huge complex, which will include garage parking, apartments and possibly retail stores, a “huge 100-year mistake.” He charged that the mayor and several council members had inappropriately consulted with developers to approve the project. He said Mayor Indya Kincannon’s office was acting as the “project manager” and said those involvements were a “violation of due process.”
Sanders said all city correspondence and records dealing with the issue should be made public. He said he made two public records requests and was told it could cost $8,000 to fulfill his request. Attorney Frost said such a request, for all records, could take a lot of time and staff to comply.
Council members Lauren Rider and Tommy Smith were also called out by Sanders and both said they met with developers but promised no support or decision on the project. Former council member Janet Testerman was also named by Sanders. Councilwoman Gwen McKenzie asked Frost if the issue would go to court and Frost replied it depends on how the council votes.
The proposed development would stretch from Locust Avenue to West Hill Avenue and First Street, overlooking Neyland Avenue and the Tennessee River next to the Henley Street Bridge.
Mayor Kincannon said it was “completely false” that she or her office assisted in the proposed development. The council voted unanimously to deny the appeal.
It took a split vote to approve a request by Homestead Land Holdings LLC to rezone a lot on 962 North Gallaher at the intersection with Mars Hill Road. Several residents objected to the rezoning, from RN-1 to RN-4, claiming the townhouse development conflicted with the neighborhood houses and questioned where the entrance road would be located.
Councilwoman Seema Singh said the location was “ideal for housing like this.” Councilman Tommy Smith objected to the re-zoning, citing traffic and neighborhood concerns.
The approval split the council 5-4 and the development was approved.
In other action the council voted to increase the rates for nonconsensual vehicle towing, approved applying for state funds for the Emergency Management Agency, approved engineering consultations for the East Greenway Drive and Boyd’s Bridge Pike bridge repair projects, and issued a quit claim deed for 1209 Forest Avenue.
An agreement with Goodwill Industries to provide recycling maintenance, customer assistance and educational services at five locations was approved.
