Council amends zoning to allow mixed-use in O‑1 and B‑1, approves Wilberforce rezoning and Centennial Bluff PUD change
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Oak Ridge City Council approved three planning and zoning items on final reading, moving forward changes city staff says align with the comprehensive plan and local development aims.
Planning staff presented the first item as a zoning text amendment to add mixed‑use development as a permitted principal use in O‑1 (office) and B‑1 (neighborhood business) districts, while standardizing language across other commercial zones by replacing the word "similar" with "compatible". Planning staff explained the change allows residential and commercial combinations where a Planning Commission‑approved site plan meets city conditions. "This item is the addition of the O 1 and the B 1 districts as mixed use," planning staff said during final reading. The council approved the ordinance on second and final reading.
Council then approved a rezoning request for two parcels (Anderson County tax map 105D Group A parcels 033.00 and 034.00) at 11 and 13 Wilberforce Avenue, changing approximately 2.65 acres from RG‑1 Residential Open Space and Reserve District to B‑2 General Business District. Planning staff said the rezoning complies with the comprehensive plan and carries unanimous Planning Commission support.
Finally, the council approved a Planned Unit Development (PUD) amendment to Centennial Bluff that removes 24 single‑family lots and adds two multi‑family condominium buildings without changing the underlying R‑3 PUD zoning. Planning staff described the change as primarily a rearrangement of parcel boundaries and unit type conversion that does not change overall unit counts; the Planning Commission recommended council consider a traffic study. Council member Smith asked whether the traffic study should accompany the rezoning decision; planning staff and the city engineer recommended that a traffic analysis be performed at the site‑plan stage, which is customary. Council member Gleason asked that any site traffic analysis account for planned Edgemoor Road widening.
The measures were approved by voice votes with no recorded opposition during the meeting.
Planning staff presented the first item as a zoning text amendment to add mixed‑use development as a permitted principal use in O‑1 (office) and B‑1 (neighborhood business) districts, while standardizing language across other commercial zones by replacing the word "similar" with "compatible". Planning staff explained the change allows residential and commercial combinations where a Planning Commission‑approved site plan meets city conditions. "This item is the addition of the O 1 and the B 1 districts as mixed use," planning staff said during final reading. The council approved the ordinance on second and final reading.
Council then approved a rezoning request for two parcels (Anderson County tax map 105D Group A parcels 033.00 and 034.00) at 11 and 13 Wilberforce Avenue, changing approximately 2.65 acres from RG‑1 Residential Open Space and Reserve District to B‑2 General Business District. Planning staff said the rezoning complies with the comprehensive plan and carries unanimous Planning Commission support.
Finally, the council approved a Planned Unit Development (PUD) amendment to Centennial Bluff that removes 24 single‑family lots and adds two multi‑family condominium buildings without changing the underlying R‑3 PUD zoning. Planning staff described the change as primarily a rearrangement of parcel boundaries and unit type conversion that does not change overall unit counts; the Planning Commission recommended council consider a traffic study. Council member Smith asked whether the traffic study should accompany the rezoning decision; planning staff and the city engineer recommended that a traffic analysis be performed at the site‑plan stage, which is customary. Council member Gleason asked that any site traffic analysis account for planned Edgemoor Road widening.
The measures were approved by voice votes with no recorded opposition during the meeting.
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