Knoxville Chamber Submits Ridgetop Protection Plan
The Knoxville Chamber has submitted an alternate hillside and ridgetop protection plan for consideration by Knox County Commission and Knoxville City Council. The two local legislative bodies have been meeting jointly for more than eight weeks in an effort to reach consensus on a plan that balances hillside and ridgetop protection with the rights of property owners and economic development needs. The plan can be downloaded here.
"The Knoxville Chamber has long supported the protection of environmentally sensitive hillsides and ridgetops in Knox County," said Mike Edwards, president & CEO. "These unique geological features in Knoxville and Knox County should be protected from inappropriate developments that would adversely affect lower lying areas or negatively impact Knox County's scenic beauty. The plan we have submitted does just that.
The Knoxville Chamber's plan calls for the adoption of a Ridgetop Zoning Overlay and special development requirements in areas containing three acres or more of slopes of 30 degrees or more on parcels that have slopes of 30 percent or more and are 3 acres or greater. Development in the Ridgetop Overlay districts would have strict requirements for reforestation, limits on height and density, and use of screening or architectural and design elements that would help blend buildings into the landscape. It also calls for Knox County to adopt a Tree Plan similar to the City of Knoxville's plan.
"Residents and businesses alike come to and grow in Knoxville because of its fantastic quality of life. A big part of our unique character is the views of the Great Smoky Mountains and the ridgetops in our own backyard," continued Edwards. "The plan proposed by MPC provides no scenic protection, according to the MPC Executive Director, and the Chamber's plan would protect the unique character of our community by preserving our scenic viewscapes. Protection of the scenic beauty of our area is important, and I hope County Commission and City Council will adopt this plan right away."