Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Variances topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves multiple setback and boundary variances; one request deferred for plans
Summary
Knox County Board of Zoning Appeals approved a series of setback and zoning‑boundary variances — including a 100‑foot CA boundary extension for school bus parking — and deferred one front‑setback request because the applicant lacked a house plan.
Knox County’s Board of Zoning Appeals approved several variances and boundary adjustments at its February meeting and deferred one request for further plans.
The board approved a 100‑foot extension of the CA zoning boundary at 8002 Clinton Highway to permit school bus parking for Akanki Transportation. Jacob Logan of Robert Campbell & Associates said topography and the need to design detention for a 100‑year storm constrained the site and that the applicant only required the limited area for bus parking. Board member Sherry Garrett recused herself from that vote because of a personal relationship with the applicant; the motion to extend the boundary passed with no opposition.
A trio of setback waivers for residential properties also cleared the board: Randall and Tracy Jenkins received a peripheral setback waiver (reduced from 35 feet to 15 feet on the site plan) to allow a 25‑by‑27 storage building after staff confirmed interior lots use a 15‑foot standard. Architect Daryl Gibson won a front‑yard reduction for a steep lot in Highland Woods (40 feet to 30 feet) to accommodate driveway and drain‑field constraints. Fatima Al Athari’s representative Todd Zachary obtained a peripheral setback reduction (35 feet to 20 feet) to fit a garage on an irregular lot; board members emphasized HOA rules do not govern the board’s determinations.
Other approvals included a sign setback reduction to 6 feet (from 10 feet) to improve visibility around utilities, and variances requested by Amy Scott of Martin Legacy Development to split a parcel into three lots and place multi‑sectional manufactured homes (front 35→25 and rear 25→15) because wetlands and an irregular lot shape otherwise limit buildable area.
An initial applicant, Eduardo Adame, requested a front‑setback waiver (35 to 10 feet) for a home on Couch Mill Road but had no house plan for the board to review. Chair Paul Huff and other members repeatedly said the application lacked necessary plans and driveway details; the applicant agreed to defer, and the board voted to return the matter next month so the applicant can provide a defined plan and driveway layout.
Corner‑lot owner Chris Rouleau received dual front‑yard waivers to allow aging‑in‑place modifications, with the board setting final setbacks to 15 feet on Scenic Valley Lane and 26 feet on Persimmon Lane to avoid later fractional variances.
Ending: With these votes recorded the board adjourned. Several approvals cited topography and lot irregularity as the justification; the board asked applicants to ensure permits and site plans are complete before constructing.
