The City of Knoxville and the Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) will host two public meetings regarding the proposed reorganization of Article 4 and Article 7 of the city’s zoning ordinance.

The rest of the press release with meeting schedules and info on the proposed changes after the jump...

KNS: Loudon City Council OKs Pilot travel center

In September, Pilot filed a lawsuit against the city charging that the wording of a 2005 ordinance prohibiting "truck stops" within the town was vague and that zoning maps of the site were incorrect.

Under terms of the settlement, Pilot will drop its suit against the city, cover all legal expenses from the dispute and agree to build a smaller version of the center.

Pilot's attorney Greg Isaacs also represents Lamar Advertising in their dispute with the City of Knoxville regarding digital billboards.

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.

Tomorrow's County Commission meeting is chock full of controversial or potentially controversial items. Here is a quick rundown so viewers can keep track of them.

Zonings (4pm):

10-D-07-SP and 10-Q-07 RZ: Southwest Sector Plan Amendment, an attempt to switch from Low- to Medium Density on Northeast side of Canton Hollow Road. MPC recommended deny, plus lots of neighborhood opposition. MPC let slide a switch to 5 units per acre Planned Residential; neighbors want scaled back to 3 units.

10-E-07-SP and 10-T-07RZ: South Sector Plan Amendment. Significant neighborhood opposition to Victor Jernigan plan for high-density apartments on south side of W. Gov. John Sevier Hwy, east of Winkle Lane, north of Tipton Station.

( I have questions on a couple other zoning items as well. )

Commission Regular Meeting (5pm or after zonings):

R-07-12-906: Tax Increment Finance package for Willow Creek Shopping Center in Halls, the proposed tax break is 20 years and $4 million.

R-07-12-909: Invoke subpoena powers of commission.

R-07-12-914: Changes regarding Code of Ethics that include defining certain things as not "items of value" and also defining nepotism.

R-07-916: Revisiting the vacancy appointments question.

R-07-917: Resolution urging all citizens to proclaim to every level of government its responsibility to recognize God as foundation of national heritage, the "God Resolution."

R-07-919: Specifying Tyler Harber incidents as part of subpoena powers, and starting investigation.

O-07-12-101 Stormwater Ordinance. Deal with city. Lumpy amendments gone, types of pipe specified in three specific instances. County gets larger size plots exempted from plans. Lingering serious questions whether other provisions are adequate or sufficient regarding EPA and environment.

O-07-12-102 Ordinance Amendments related to Animal Control, dangerous dogs.

O-07-11-103 Recall Amendment

--Mark Harmon

Developers of a proposed controversial sports complex have asked for their zoning request to be withdrawn.

The Blount Today paper reports that they are now talking to the City of Alcoa about locating the project there, possibly on Alcoa Aluminum Co. property. City officials say preliminary talks are still in the "exploratory stages." Blount Co. Mayor Cunningham says, in effect, I told you so.

Curiously, the Maryville Daily Times, reporting the next day on another hearing this week at which the public again expressed opposition, said that the zoning would go up for a vote on June 21st.

Today's paper confirms that developers have withdrawn the request, but says that they requested it be postponed until after June 21 because it would "get lost in the discussion" of the budget, which is up for approval at that meeting. Developers also confirm that they are looking at Alcoa, Loudon Co., and Knox Co., and that "We’re going to build the project. We’re talking to anybody that will talk to us."

If you think about it, the project makes more sense in Alcoa. It's already an urban/industrial area, already has hotels and restaurants that serve the airport, already has water/sewer and other infrastructure, and Alcoa Aluminum Co. has unused land that might be perfect for the project. Maybe this isn't such a bad idea. But maybe the downside for the developers is city and county property taxes?

Scott Barker from The KNS is live blogging it here.

BREAKING NEWS UPDATE: Zoning passes 5-4. (By way of Betty in comments at 9:16.)

UPDATE from Scott Barker: Voting for the proposal were Sam Anderson, Indya Kincannon, Dan Murphy, Karen Carson and Jim Williams. Cindy Buttry, Thomas Deakins, Rex Stooksbury and Robert Bratton voted no.

We would prefer that the board make its decision today and hang tough.

I have changed my mind and now I am going to fight for Mr. Simmerly and his proposed Sports Complex. My fight however is going to be to change the location.

If they need restaurants and hotels for these traveling players then wouldn't it be better to put this complex closer to where those services are already offered?

They want gas stations and doctors. Why shucks, we got us a nice hospital in Maryville and all kinds of gas stations. We even got us a new WalMart so they can go buy a new soft ball glove instead of having to rent one!

Seriously folks, this is not a fight over a few ball fields. It is all about creating a small city at the furthest end of the county. The whole idea of additional athletic fields has merit if it is in a location that benefits those of us living here in Blount County and if it follows the master plan. First we need a plan!
Got it? Give us a plan so we can cheer this thing on!

Go on over to Commissioner Wendy Pitts Reeves Blog Link... Link from there to the actual proposal. Read John Lamb's comments then go to the Planning Commission meeting tonight and let your voice be heard. In the right place with the right plan this could be a nice addition to Blount County.

Lisa Starbuck reports on the recent community coalition school rezoning forum. They have prepared an open letter to the School Board calling for a new process.

There was also a survey of the participants. The top concern mentioned was lack of public involvement in the process, followed by a lack of supported data/alternative plans.

Click read more to see the open letter to the School Board and the complete survey results with comments from participants.

In related news, the Knoxville News Sentinel has apparently decided who to side with in today's front page editorial disguised as a news report.

Read more from the community coalition after the jump...

Just received this press release from Lisa Starbuck...

New School Rezoning Forum Announced

A coalition of parents and neighborhood organizations from across Knox County announces a community-driven county-wide forum to discuss the proposed school rezonings. The forum will be held at the Knoxville Expo Center, 5441 Clinton Highway, on Thursday, April 26th, 2007 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. The coalition consists of parents and neighborhood groups in Knox County who are not satisfied with the level of community and parental involvement in deciding this important issue.

Read more...

Sandra Clark rips the new plan, and offers sympathy for the guy who keeps getting stuck with damage control. Plus, from Gossip and Lies: "Halls High was virtually unscathed by the school rezoning plan with only four students rezoned to Central. An unidentified teacher said he/she wants to pick which four."

While you're over there, check out the Beanster's column on the storm water ordinance. Yet another huge fiasco a long time in the making.

Air Fest Postponed

Due to the gloomy weather forecast, the Air Fest event at Maryville College has been postponed from Saturday, April 14, to Saturday, April 28, from 5 pm-8 pm.

So see ya on the 28th ( not tomorrow!) at the Blount County AirFest.

Come on out. Ask EHAT- Blount County Environmental Health Action Team about the work it has done in the past. They have done studies on what we as Blount County residents want for our county. Ask them about those concerns because there has been very little coverage on this.

You might even want to read about it before you go.

The Harvey Broome Group Sierra Club will be there. Ask them about mountain top developments and these new fangled onsite wastewater systems that are changing the face of our mountains and wetlands.

Come on out, ask questions and question all the answers.

WBIR has an interactive map showing the current and proposed school zones. You can enter your address and see how you will be affected. Click on the little round symbols to see the name of the school zone. The right column has settings for current and proposed zones.

Blount County Commissioner Wendy Pitts Reeves thanks the public for their participation and speculates about what might happen next.

Just got back from the public hearing on the proposed "sports complex" zoning changes in Blount County. The meeting, which was scheduled to begin at 6:30 and last 30 minutes, was a little late getting started and was still going on when we left after 8 PM.

To sum it up, there was overwhelming public opposition to the proposed changes. Participants were vocal, and there was enthusiastic applause and cheering for those who spoke in opposition.

We estimate there were 250 people there, maybe more. It was standing room only and spilling out into the halls. 32 people signed up to speak. When we left, 23 had addressed County Commission. Of those, 18 were opposed to the changes, and five spoke in support. Of the five, four were developers or builders, including Simmerly, the sports complex developer.

(We sat right next to County Mayor Jerry Cunningham and developer Darrell Tipton. They did not seem to be happy campers.)

The buzz we heard from one person who had spoken to some commissioners was that the zoning changes would likely not pass.

One surprise involved a small private airport adjacent to the proposed site of the sports complex. The owner pointed out to County Commission that the relaxed building height restrictions would interfere with takeoffs and landings and would not be within regulations that close to his runway. He said it would create a safety hazard that could shut down his airport. He also noted FAA restrictions on flight over open assemblies such as would occur at outdoor athletic events. This is, I believe, a new wrinkle.

I will have more notes tomorrow. I will say, though, that we were pleasantly surprised to see so many smart, progressive Blount Co. residents in one place. This issue has the community mobilized.

Wendy Pitts Reeves has background and the schedule for this evening's public hearing on proposed Blount Co. zoning regulation changes.

If you live in Blount County, TN or you visit the county often to enjoy the Great Out Doors aka GSM- your action is urgently needed.

Next Tuesday, April 10, at 6:30 there a public hearing on proposed changes to zoning in Blount County Link...

What it boils down to is this-

We don't have a plan.
Yes, we do have a plan.
But, we don't to follow any stinkin' plan.
We will let the public speak out on April 10th but we don't have to listen.

Cause we are Blount County and we can turn this place into Sevier County if we want and you can't stop us.

Why is it that to conserve the land it takes the actions of a liberal but to liberally give way the land to development is done by conservatives?

Well, a question ain’t really a question
If you know the answer too- John Prine

Blount County Mayor Jerry Cunningham is apparently trying to push through some creative mixed-use zoning for one parcel of property for one developer for one project:

The Planning Commission proposal for the new Sports Complex District included provisions for athletic fields, retail sales, rental of goods and merchandise, gas stations, laundry mat, restaurants, medical offices and clinics, hotels and motels, and multifamily developments.

What about bowling alleys and tattoo parlors? According to the article, none of the proposed uses comply with current zoning for the property. There is also a National Registry of Historic Places home and farm at the proposed site, and maybe a cemetery.

The article says this and other similar zoning requests are coming from a planning commissioner newly appointed by Mayor Cunningham, who promised "to streamline government procedures, cut through red tape and eliminate government bureaucracy."

Another commissioner says "We didn't have discussions or work groups or anything about this before Helton brought it to the commission. It was just thrown out there, approved and sent on to the commissioners."

The investors involved in the project are secret. A local banker is promoting it on their behalf. He says the investors are mostly local although there is an "out-of-state element," but he's "not working with some investment group from Atlanta." Apparently those Atlanta investment groups are a undesirable bunch? He also says "These are not regular Blount County developers I'm working with because this isn't a regular Blount County development." Well, the circumstances surrounding this deal certainly sound irregular.

And finally, this quote from our illustrious County Mayor:

When asked if anyone with a development background was involved in the project, Cunningham said, "It's not my job to ferret out Simmerly's investors."

OK, then.

As a follow-up to the "Naked Men" post from yesterday, I received an e-mail from a Sequoya Hills resident who is also a KMS parent. The correspondent says that the house next to the school is in need of repairs and that the property owners have not acted responsibly in addressing problems with tenants, and that the school has been trying to find a solution for years. The e-mail goes on: