Knox County Board of Zoning Appeals approves most variances, defers one after applicants fail to provide plans

The Knox County Board of Zoning Appeals approved multiple zoning variances at its February meeting, granting relief for front‑yard and periphery setbacks, a municipal zoning boundary extension for school bus parking, and several sign and lot‑split requests, while deferring one application for insufficient plans.

The board granted a CA zoning boundary extension of 100 feet at 8002 Clinton Highway so Conkey Transportation could accommodate school bus parking after Jacob Logan of Robert Campbell and Associates said topography and detention requirements limited expansion elsewhere. Boardmember Sherry Garrett recused herself because of a relationship with the applicant; the board approved the extension with no recorded opposition.

Other approvals included: a periphery setback reduction for a storage building at 3419 Hackworth Road after the applicant described steep slopes and preconstruction costs; a front yard reduction at Highland Woods Way to accommodate a roundabout driveway on a steep lot; a periphery waiver at 1384 Wineberry Road citing irregular lot geometry; a sign setback reduction to permit improved visibility at 9628 Tallahassee Lane; and variances to allow a three‑lot split at 2107 Tipton Station Road.

One item was deferred: Eduardo Adame requested a front yard setback from 35 feet to 10 feet at 11452 Couch Mill Road but did not provide a house plan or driveway details. Board members said they could not approve a specific setback without a plan showing what would be built and where: "I would really like to see a house plan for what you plan to build, that would support why you can't move it further back than 10 feet," the chair said during deliberations. The board voted to defer the item until the applicant returns with detailed plans.

The meeting also addressed a request involving the county’s 500‑year floodplain. Staff noted the county participates in the FEMA floodplain management program and that, under that program, they were required to oppose the variance to protect community flood‑insurance discounts: "I'm required under that program to oppose this, variance request," a codes representative said on the record. After reviewing site photos, elevations and the applicant’s account that a surveying error led to construction in the restricted area, the board voted to waive the guideline and grant the variance for the nonhabitable structure, noting the decision would need to be defensible in any audit even if FEMA ultimately disagreed.

Board members repeatedly cited topography, existing site constraints, and prior investments when approving waivers and urged applicants to provide full plans before seeking relief. The board adjourned after completing the agenda and approving the remaining requested variances.

The board did not specify conditions of some approvals beyond standard staff review; items deferred or approved without full documentation may return for further review at a future meeting.