Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wright Road Postpone topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission postpones BT Davis rezoning on Wright Road for 60 days amid road safety concerns
Summary
Commission postponed a request from BT Davis Enterprises to rezone a Wright Road parcel after residents and an engineer raised safety, sight‑distance and drainage concerns; applicant agreed to a 60‑day postponement to work with staff and explore alternatives.
The Knoxville‑Knox County Planning Commission voted to postpone for 60 days a request from BT Davis Enterprises LLC to rezone a site on the west side of Wright Road that was seeking PR zoning for up to 4.5 dwelling units per acre.
Neighbors said Wright Road is an old, narrow, rural road that lacks shoulders, adequate sight distance and sufficient drainage to handle denser development, and asked the commission to deny or delay action until a traffic study and road evaluation are completed.
Resident and retired engineer George Lagos told the commission Wright Road is an “old agricultural road” with pavement widths near 18 feet, no shoulders, inadequate sight distance and recurring flooding. “The infrastructure simply can’t handle it,” Lagos said, urging staff to require a traffic study before any rezoning is approved. He also said rezoning the parcel would set a precedent that could invite higher density on adjacent lots.
Applicant Brian Davis said the proposal is intended to remedy a lot‑line/address issue for two existing attached units and that the property already contains two addresses; his team said their preference was to resolve addressing but they were willing to postpone to work with staff. Planning staff confirmed the RA zone only allows duplexes and that creating two individually deeded units under current RA rules is difficult; the PR zone would permit attached houses and would allow the split without a separate condominium regime.
Vice Chair Huber moved for a 60‑day postponement to give the applicant time to explore options — such as condominiumization or special‑use pathways — and to coordinate with staff and the county/engineering on access and safety concerns; Commissioner Boyer seconded. The motion carried by voice vote.
What happens next: The applicant agreed to use the postponement period to meet with staff and counsel to determine whether the addressing issue can be addressed without upzoning or whether a different application route is required. Engineering may request a traffic impact analysis as part of any subsequent filing.
