Knox County board approves several variances, extends industrial zone

Knox County board members approved several zoning requests at their January 2026 meeting, including a side-yard setback reduction for an accessory building at 3207 Montlake Drive, two lot-size waivers in the Copper Ridge subdivision and a 100-foot extension of an industrial boundary line at 4329 Greenway Drive.

The board approved Benjamin Fields’ request to reduce a side-yard setback to 3 feet so he can build a code-compliant accessory storage building. Fields said the addition would be “an addition to the back of the workshop” and that topography (a cut slope and a short retaining wall) and vehicle maneuverability limited alternative locations; the board approved the variance after no opposition was raised.

Separately, the board approved revised lot-size waivers for a Copper Ridge subdivision plat. A surveyor told the board that revised plans left Lot 1 at 1.00 acre (no variance needed), while Lot 2 would be 0.52 acres and Lot 3 would be 0.83 acres; the board voted to grant the waivers for Lot 2 and Lot 3 as presented.

The board also granted a 100-foot extension of an industrial-zone boundary at 4329 Greenway Drive so a proposed garage-like structure would sit fully inside the industrial zone. Applicant Daniel Burch said the change would allow the property to be more useful to future tenants or buyers; a board member said neighborhood impacts would be considered if vegetation is cleared and appropriate mitigation required.

All three items were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote with no recorded opposition. The board recorded no roll-call tallies in the transcript for these motions.

What happens next: approved applicants should follow permitting procedures with county staff; any site work that affects vegetation or buffering must comply with applicable county requirements.