Council approves rezoning request for Horizon Center parcel amid concerns over IND-3 designation

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday approved on first reading a rezoning request to change the zoning of Development Area 5 in Horizon Center Industrial Park from IND-2 to IND-3, a heavier industrial classification. The applicant’s representative said the planned work is related to licensed nuclear activity and required the IND-3 designation, while several council members and residents pressed for more detail and questioned whether IND-3 is the right fit for an area bordering greenways and conservation easements.

Wayne Blasius, who presented the request for the applicant, said the company believes IND-3 is required for their future phase and that detailed plans were proprietary. “The applicant has plans for their future phase, which will not be allowable under IND-2 by their estimation of reading the ordinance,” Blasius said. Staff and the Planning Commission recommended approval on reading.

Council member Smith said she had “some heartburn” about establishing another IND-3 zone in the Horizon Center because the district is written for uses that may cause public nuisances such as noise or odors or present significant hazards. “I would not want significant external radiation or significant potential accidents in the Horizon Center,” she said, and added that the IND-3 definition covers consequences of potential accidents and external radiation, not merely the presence of radioactive material. Smith also encouraged staff to proceed with caution so that nuisance uses allowed under IND-3 would not push away greenway users or adjacent neighborhoods.

Mike Tesser, identified as a program director with BWXT, told council the company has purchased the land and that the planned development “is related to a nuclear work … radioactive material and it's going to be licensed by the federal government, the NRC.” Tesser described the overall risk as “very low” and tied to licensing and regulations.

Council and staff noted that TrISOx, an adjacent facility, already carries an IND-3 designation; Council member Smith argued that TrISOx itself should not necessarily have been placed in IND-3 given the low-risk nature of its work, and said the current ordinance lacks a specific district for low-risk nuclear or chemical activities. City officials said they are investigating creating a new zoning district to address nuclear-related uses and that the city manager recently secured a state grant to hire a consultant to help design such a district.

Resident Ellen Colclasure said she had recently walked the greenway close to the proposed site and found children and many vehicles using the trail, calling the location “not isolated.” She urged council to consider current and future greenway traffic when approving industrial zoning next to recreational space.

Outcome: The council approved the ordinance on first reading. The Planning Commission and staff had recommended approval; council members asked the applicant to provide more detail before final reading and staff to continue work on a nuclear-specific zoning approach.

Why this matters: The approval would permit heavier industrial uses on a 96.5-acre parcel that abuts conservation land and public greenways. Council members said they want to protect public access and the greenway character while ensuring industrial regulations match the risk profile of proposed uses.

Ending: Staff and council indicated they will seek more technical detail from the applicant before final reading and continue work on a zoning option tailored to nuclear-related uses.