Knoxville City Council voted to remove a legacy “C” plan‑district designation from a parcel at 962 North Gallaher View Road following a long, contested hearing.

Developer James Lennon told council the previous approval was tied to a memory‑care project that collapsed when the original operator went bankrupt; he said removing the obsolete overlay will allow him to pursue a townhome development under current RN‑4 zoning. Lennon told council he hopes to offer townhomes in the roughly $400,000 range and that the parcel’s topography and lot sizes shaped his design.

Neighborhood representatives, including Larry Silverstein and Lee Hume of the West Hills Community Association, urged maintaining the 'C' overlay (planned residential) because it requires special‑use review and a formal development plan that ensures public input and environmental compatibility. They said planning commissioners had not been given complete information previously and that the overlay is intended for prominent or sensitive properties.

Council members and staff debated how transition rules from the 2019 code should be applied. Director Brooks and staff read the transition rule (1.4.g) that preserves previously approved plan districts and said staff recommendations are guided by the sector and one‑year plans that were in effect when the old code was adopted. Councilmember Roberto argued the parcel’s current sector plan designation now allows medium density and that planned‑residential rights effectively remain available via the transition rules. Developers and some council members said the administrative timing (a 120‑day planning clock) left the applicant an unclear path unless the C designation was removed.

After more than an hour of back‑and‑forth over process, public review and development rights, the council voted to remove the C designation. The roll call recorded Vice Mayor Smith, Singh, Fugate, Helsley, McKenzie, Parker and Reiter as voting yes; Councilmembers Thomas and Roberto voted no. Councilmembers asked planning staff to ensure that the planning review steps and special‑use processes remain available to the developer under the current code as the project proceeds.

Next steps: the developer may proceed with special‑use or subdivision filings consistent with RN‑4 zoning and any transition rules; planning staff indicated it will use the relevant sector plan guidance when making recommendations to the planning commission.