Planning commission removes duplex location criteria; requests staff draft conversion design guidelines

The Knoxville Knox County Planning Commission on Thursday approved an amendment to the one‑year plan to remove duplex location criteria from chapter 2 of the development policy, and directed staff to prepare design criteria for conversion projects to be considered at a future meeting.

Supporters and opponents debated the change during public comments and a lengthy commission discussion. Drew Harper, vice president of YES Knoxville, told the commission the amendment would "allow flexibility in land use [and] give more agency to property owners," and said it would encourage infill rather than sprawl. Joyce Feld, president of Scenic Knoxville, urged the commission not to adopt the amendment without codified design standards, saying "design standards protect existing property values. They preserve architectural integrity, and they promote the aesthetics and stability of a neighborhood." Several neighborhood speakers asked for more public notice and time to weigh in; Lee Hume, president of the West Hills Community…