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Planning commission approves CareCuts day center on Clinton Highway after heated public comment
Summary
The Knoxville Knox County Planning Commission approved a special-use permit for CareCuts to operate a daytime social-service center at 5200 Clinton Highway on Jan. 8, 2026, after hours of public comment from nearby business owners and residents who raised safety and traffic concerns and supporters who said the program helps move people into housing.
The Knoxville Knox County Planning Commission voted Jan. 8 to approve a special-use permit allowing CareCuts to operate a daytime social-service center at 5200 Clinton Highway, despite strong opposition from nearby businesses and residents.
CareCuts board member and property representative Mary Catherine Wormsley urged the commission to approve the application, saying the organization provides day services — including ID assistance, mailing address services, clothing, haircuts, referrals to housing and behavioral-health partners, and computer access — and is not an overnight shelter. “This is not a correct description of the operation,” Wormsley said, asking commissioners to note that the organization expects to serve 40–60 people on Tuesdays and Fridays, up to 80 on Sundays, and estimate a maximum…
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