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Planning Commission approves CareCuts day center on Clinton Highway after contentious hearing
Summary
The Knoxville Knox County Planning Commission narrowly approved a special-use permit for CareCuts to operate a daytime social service center at 5200 Clinton Highway despite strong neighborhood opposition over safety, traffic and outreach; commissioners also asked staff to review zoning language that triggers special-use review for services aimed at people transitioning from homelessness.
The Knoxville Knox County Planning Commission voted to approve a special-use permit on Jan. 8, 2026, allowing CareCuts, a faith-based nonprofit, to operate a daytime social service center at 5200 Clinton Highway.
Supporters, including property owner and CareCuts board member Mary Catherine Wormsley, described the proposal as a day center rather than a shelter and said the program is designed to connect people to IDs, housing referrals, mental-health and substance-use resources, haircuts, clothing and basic phone/computer access. "This is not a correct description of the operation of this faith based nonprofit. This is a day center that provides resources to help clients move forward from their current situation," Wormsley said during the hearing, adding CareCuts estimates serving 40–60 people on Tuesdays and Fridays and up to 80 on Sundays with a maximum of 28 people inside…
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