The KNS reports that a new joint city-county task force has been formed by Knox County Commission and Knoxville City Council to create ridgetop development regulations. The panel was formed following complaints about the South Knox KUB water tower.

According to the article, Knoxville City Council member Joe Hultquist has gotten a commitment from KUB to at least study the cost of tearing down the water tower and replacing it with something less intrusive.

Previously on KnoxViews:

• Newest addition to South Waterfront development
• South Knox water tower update
• Joe Hultquist: Public Meeting on Unacceptable Water Tower
• Lisa Starbuck: Ridgetop Protection
• Stacey Diamond: Lovely View
• Michael Kaplan: Sky Blue

Scenic Knoxville is a new non-profit organization formed to protect and enhance Knoxville’s scenic beauty. The organization’s first challenge is to prevent digital billboards in the City of Knoxville. The question of whether digital billboards will be allowed in the City of Knoxville will be voted on by the Knoxville/Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission on February 14, 2008 and by Knoxville City Council on March 11, 2008.

The group will also be working on ridge protection, sustainable land use policies, historic preservation of scenic landmarks, and legislative initiatives such as implementing billboard and signage control measures.

Read the full press release after the jump for more information, including background on the group's leadership and Board of Directors.

Ed. Note and update: Reports from the meeting in comments by Rikki and Lisa Starbuck.

As the meeting to discuss the South Knox watertower blight approaches, I would like to encourage everyone to attend whether or not you live in South Knoxville or care about the view from downtown, because ridgetop protection is something we must all fight for, and the developers won't give in easily.

Below are just two examples of ridgetop desecration that is happening right now in the Ritta community. The first photo is a "barrow" operation that is located right next door to the brand new $2 million New Harvest Park on Washington Pike. This is the view from the road. Anyone who visits the new shopping center or the park can't help but see this ugliness. The ridge is being dug out by the landscaping company (Eastwood Landscaping) and most of the dirt was sold to fill in the wetlands beside the Walmart for their expanded parking lot. The Walmart project is finished but the digging continues.