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Design board approves several infill projects, postpones others for revised drawings and grading details
Summary
The board approved multiple infill and duplex proposals (including 2932 Whittle Springs, 103 Oglewood, 127 Atlantic, 3317 Johnston and a modest Embassy Suites rooftop addition) and postponed several projects (205/209 Chickamauga and 1043 Oglewood fourplex) for 30 days to allow revised porch, foundation, grading and site drawings.
Knoxville’s Design Review Board on March 18 approved a series of infill housing and rooftop cases while postponing others that require clearer construction or grading details.
What passed: the board approved a two-lot subdivision at 2932 Whittle Springs Road that returns a previously subdivided single-family house to its earlier lot pattern; it approved revisions to a previously permitted house at 103 Oglewood Avenue with a condition to adjust porch columns for better alignment; the 127 Atlantic Avenue duplex was approved with conditions (brick returns and a single central gable); and the 3317 Johnston Street duplex was approved per staff recommendations with conditions for special-use mitigation (tree plantings and final foundation heights). The board also approved a modest rooftop addition to the Embassy Suites at 507 South Gay Street, provided the addition meet engineering and property-line constraints during permitting.
What was postponed: the board postponed two identical proposed duplexes at 205 and 209 Chickamauga Avenue (to allow updated drawings showing porch construction type, a roof extension to cover porches to meet middle-housing standards, and clearer elevations) and postponed a fourplex at 1043 Oglewood Avenue for 30 days so the applicant can provide accurate grading/site elevations, a clarified driveway and retaining-wall strategy (members raised safety, light-well and walkability concerns and asked whether a mature magnolia would be removed for access).
Board members repeatedly emphasized that the drawings submitted must match the intended construction—especially porch floor/understructure, foundation heights and roof projections—so the board can vote on what will actually be built. Staff noted middle housing and multifamily principal-use standards limit the amount of metal or vinyl siding to 15% of any facade and that certain porch depth and roof coverage requirements must be met to qualify under middle housing standards.
Several applicants agreed to make the requested changes and return for expedited review; those cases will come back to the board after the applicants submit revised drawings and staff confirms compliance.
