Kingsport council approves rezoning on Tyson Lane after residents raise traffic concerns

Kingsport City Council approved an ordinance to rezone property along Tyson Lane (Tax Map 46B, Parcel 13 and a portion of Parcel 12) from R-1B Residential District to P-1 Professional Office District following a public hearing and discussion of traffic impacts. The motion to approve was made by Alderman Phillips, seconded by Alderman George, and passed by voice vote, 7-0.

Residents who live adjacent to the site told the council they supported development but worried about how vehicles would access the proposed medical spa and the effect on neighborhood streets. One speaker identified as Schafer (125 Rosefield Drive) and another as Ron Atkinson described narrow road geometry and a lack of turning lanes on nearby Stone Drive and Tyson Lane, saying children play and traffic could be routed through their neighborhood if access was limited. City staff said a traffic review will occur when site plans are submitted and that staff reserve the right to require a full traffic impact study.

Why it matters: the rezoning would allow professional-office uses on the property and could enable a medical spa; such uses change vehicle trip patterns and can shift traffic onto adjacent residential streets. The council's approval allows applicants to submit site-development plans, at which point the city's traffic engineering and public‑works divisions will evaluate whether a traffic study or mitigation (for example, a new driveway/turn lane off Stone Drive) is required.

Council and staff described the post‑rezoning steps: once a site plan is submitted, city departments (planning, traffic engineering, public works and others) conduct a design review. By code, a medical spa in the P-1 zone requires Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) approval as a special exception; that BZA review will be a separate public hearing. Staff emphasized the 750 average daily trips threshold that automatically triggers a traffic study, but said the city can require studies at lower trip levels if circumstances indicate potential negative impacts.

The council did not take action on site design or traffic mitigation tonight; council members and staff said such questions will be addressed during the development‑review process and, where applicable, at the BZA hearing. The ordinance passed 7-0.

Votes at a glance: ordinance to amend tax map 46B Parcel 13 and portion of Parcel 12 (Tyson Lane) from R-1B to P-1 — motion by Alderman Phillips; second by Alderman George; outcome: approved, voice vote 7-0.

What’s next: staff said they will review any submitted site plans (typical review comments back in about 10–15 days once plans are submitted) and the applicant will need BZA approval for the medical spa special exception. If traffic counts or design indicate a safety issue, the city’s traffic engineering/public‑works team can require infrastructure changes such as turn lanes or modified driveway locations.