Oak Ridge council approves zoning changes, park projects and transfers; dozens of board appointments made

Oak Ridge City Council at its first meeting of 2025 approved a series of ordinances, rezoning requests, a planned unit development amendment, and multiple resolutions, and completed a large round of appointments to boards and advisory bodies.

Key actions (votes and short notes):

- Zoning text amendment (mixed‑use): Council approved final adoption of an amendment to the zoning ordinance to add mixed‑use development as a permitted principal use in O‑1 (office) and B‑1 (neighborhood business) districts and to standardize language in related commercial zones. A public hearing was opened and closed with no public speakers and the second/final reading was approved unanimously.

- Rezoning off Tuskegee/Wilberforce Avenue: Council approved second reading rezoning approximately 2.65 acres (Anderson County tax map 105D group A, parcels 033 and 034) from RG‑1 (residential open space and reserve) to B‑2 (general business). The Planning Commission had unanimously recommended approval and the ordinance passed on second reading with no opposition.

- Centennial Bluff PUD amendment: Final reading approved a change to the Centennial Bluff planned unit development master plan replacing 24 single‑family lots with two multifamily condominium buildings and making minor boundary adjustments; planning staff said unit counts were unchanged and recommended traffic study at the site plan stage rather than during the PUD amendment. Motion carried unanimously on final reading.

- Resolution supporting American Museum of Science and Energy Foundation request: Council approved a resolution supporting placement of a decommissioned submarine conning tower (often called the “conning tower” or sail) at A.K. Bissell Park, near City Hall. Staff and council discussed the site, heavy foundation work required, and confirmed the AMS&E Foundation will fund transportation and installation; members asked for an artist rendering to share with the public. Approved unanimously.

- Property transfer to Free Medical Clinic: Council approved donating the city‑owned property at 1790 Oak Ridge Turnpike to the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge at no cost for use as a care centre. Staff noted the clinic has secured grant funding (including a $500,000 award referenced in the council packet) and other grants that support renovation; council approved the resolution 7‑0.

- Oak Ridge General Aviation Airport resolution (amended): Council authorised preliminary exploration of alternate sites and directed staff to bring discussion of disposition options for city‑held parcels at East Tennessee Technology Park to a work session; see separate article for full discussion. Approved 7‑0 as amended.

- Natural Resource Damages (TDEC) grant resolution: Council authorised staff to apply for up to $10,000,000 from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Oak Ridge Reservation Natural Resource Damages restoration grant program with a 20% local match requirement. Staff said two proposed projects (Solway Park and A.K. Bissell Park) would likely be proposed for the round; council approved the resolution 7‑0.

- 2025 State Legislative Agenda: Council adopted the city’s 2025 state legislative agenda, which includes language encouraging exploration of updated reappraisal cycles and other policy priorities. Staff said they had revised language on reappraisal to reflect options for a county plan to the State Board of Equalization. Approved unanimously.

- Economic impact plan for Orano project development area: Council approved a resolution adopting an economic impact plan required by state law for the Orano project development area. Bond counsel and city representatives described the measure as a statutory step needed to implement a tax‑incentive/abatement framework previously discussed; the resolution passed 7‑0.

Appointments and elections: Council completed a slate of 54 appointments across local boards and commissions from a pool of 119 applicants. Several boards were filled by acclamation where applicant count matched vacancies; others required ballots and runoff rounds (for example: Disability Advisory Board, Arts, Culture and History Alliance Advisory Board, and several others). Council also appointed council representatives to the Planning Commission, Land Bank and the newly created Arts board, and confirmed the mayor’s planning commission appointment.

Appearance of citizens: Katie Watt, president of Explore Oak Ridge, publicly thanked city departments and staff for support of community events. Resident comments also raised land‑use concerns about a parcel near the Powerhouse area proposed for industrial zoning; councilmembers noted the matter will be considered by the Planning Commission and returned to council as required by the standard processes.

What the votes mean: Council’s approvals keep a number of city projects moving — from changes that enable mixed‑use infill to park improvement grant applications — while preserving council oversight of major land dispositions and requiring future site‑specific studies (for example, traffic studies at site plan) where staff and planning recommended them.

Votes at a glance (selected): all actions below recorded as approved 7‑0 unless otherwise noted.

- Ordinance: Zoning text amendment (mixed‑use in O‑1/B‑1) — final adoption — approved 7‑0. - Ordinance: Rezoning parcels on Wilberforce Avenue from RG‑1 to B‑2 — final adoption — approved 7‑0. - Ordinance: Centennial Bluff PUD amendment (remove 24 single‑family lots; add 2 multifamily buildings) — final adoption — approved 7‑0. - Resolution: Support for AMS&E Foundation placement of submarine conning tower at A.K. Bissell Park — approved 7‑0. - Resolution: Transfer of 1790 Oak Ridge Turnpike to Free Medical Clinic — approved 7‑0. - Resolution: Oak Ridge General Aviation Airport (exploration and disposition as amended) — approved 7‑0. - Resolution: Apply for up to $10,000,000 from TDEC NRD program with 20% match — approved 7‑0. - Resolution: Adopt 2025 state legislative agenda — approved 7‑0. - Resolution: Approve economic impact plan for Orano project development area — approved 7‑0.

Next steps and follow‑ups: staff will proceed with grant pre‑applications to TDEC, present disposition options for ETTP parcels at a work session, perform site‑plan level traffic studies where recommended by planning staff, coordinate with the AMS&E Foundation on renderings and foundation requirements for the conning tower, and begin outreach for PUD and rezoning follow‑ups where appropriate.

Local officials urged residents to watch council meeting notices and posted work‑session agendas for forthcoming briefings and more detailed staff reports.