Amendments

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2.5 Density credits allow development incentives, such as increased density or
in exchange for a voluntary contribution towards preserving
resource lands including ridges and open space.

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5.3 Establish measurable standards to define neighborhood character. In the zoning
regulations, specify form attributes such building height, frontage
type or building type, transparency, and other measurable standards to define
neighborhood character.

5.4 Provide site design flexibility for amenities. Regulations should provide flexibility
for new neighborhood development to provide desired design features. Consider a
point system that includes minimum standards and additional design features such as
recreational areas, trails, electric vehicle charging, streetlights, underground utilities, or
exceptional architectural or landscape design.
Installing any amenity shall be at the sole discretion of the land owner or developer.

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7.1 Create a large-lot agricultural zone. Create a zoning district that maintain more natural heritage and rural character.

7.3 Create a conservation toolkit. Design and promote a menu of tools to assist property
owners with programs that conserve land. These tools can outline the benefits of
conserving land, determine potential incentives, and describe state or national programs
property owners can join to protect natural resources. Once completed, the toolkit should
be easily accessible and shared with property owners who are adjacent to or are a part of
conservation areas in the county
This toolkit shall include Density credits allow that development incentives, such as increased density or
in exchange for a voluntary contribution towards preserving
resource lands including ridges and open space.

7.4 Establish scenic corridor overlay zoning. Define design and environmental standards
for the county’s scenic corridors per TDOT’s Scenic Highway designation “Scenic
Roadway Handbook.” Standards should address signs, lighting, landscaping, and
maintenance for properties along such a corridor and shall be paid for by the government

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9.2 Plan in advance for future infrastructure expansion to support anticipated growth
and use incentives where appropriate. The county, in partnership with TDOT, the
TPO, and local utility providers, should understand needed infrastructure expansion
and partner with the development community on the build out and/or right-of-way and
easement dedication process including areas inside and outside the growth policy map

9.3 Focus growth in areas already served by adequate infrastructure. The Plan’s Future
Land Use Map locates place types partially based on current utility and transportation
infrastructure availability or where infrastructure improvements are anticipated over the
horizon of the Plan this includes areas inside and outside the growth policy map

9.5 Avoid approving isolated developments where infrastructure is inadequate or not
yet planned. Rezoning of land, subdivisions, or development approvals should not be
supported in these areas until improvements to major roads or utilities are complete, underway,
planned over the horizon.

9.6 Align capital improvement projects. The Comprehensive Plan defines the county’s
intent for development character, infrastructure expansion, and land uses. Countyfunded capital improvement projects should be evaluated against the goals of the
Comprehensive Plan to ensure they facilitate implementation and include investments
across the county including areas inside and outside the growth policy map

9.7 Establish typical road standards for collectors and arterials. The standards,
which could prescribe right-of-way needs, lane widths, medians, shoulders, and
other geometric features, can be used to establish cost shares and memoranda of
understanding (MOU) with public agencies and private developers.
Establishing the road standards shall be the sole discrepancy of Knox County Engineering.

11.2 Limit the use of cul-de-sacs. This can increase network connectivity, better disperse
traffic, and shorten emergency response times. Fewer dead-end streets provide
greater connectivity and redundancy in the travel network, which allows vehicular
traffic to better disperse into the network rather than to a single point along an arterial.
Increased connectivity also benefits emergency responders by reducing the response
times needed to access residential developments
Choosing whether to install a cul-de-sac shall be at the sole discretion of the developer

11.3 Create sidewalk standards according to place types. These should best serve the
character and needs of the surrounding development. Sidewalk standards may define
the expected width, buffer, and lighting expectations based on the character of the
surrounding development. When tailored to the place types, these standards can
encourage pedestrian travel by increasing comfort.
Choosing whether to install sidewalks shall be at the sole discretion of the developer.

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DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS
Administrative and legislative approvals
of development proposals, including
rezonings and subdivision plats, should be
a central means of implementing the Plan.
Recommendations from staff and decisions
by the Knoxville-Knox County Planning
Commission shall reference relevant Comprehensive Plan
recommendations and policies. The zoning
code and subdivision regulations shall be
updated in response to regulatory strategies
presented in the plan

CONSISTENT INTERPRETATION
Knoxville-Knox County Planning will
collaborate with all partners including
staff to ensure clear and consistent interpretation
of the major items in the Plan

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dditional Implementation Actions
IM.1 Modify the process for plan amendments to support
rezonings. Place types provide a degree of flexibility
in terms of where they apply to specific sites and the
specific types of development that are appropriate.
However, there are inevitably instances where a
property owner, or developer’s wishes may be in conflict
with the intent of this Plan. In that case, they will be
required to request a plan amendment. That process
should involve public input as part of the application
prior to a public hearing.
Planning Commission may initiate
plan amendments at any time, but consideration of
amendments from applicants is expected to occur
quarterly

Criteria for a plan
update
If there is an obvious or
significant error or omission
in the Plan, or if one or more
criteria apply, it may be
appropriate to update the
Plan

Determining if the Criteria has been met
shall be at the sole discretion of
Planning Commission.