Knox County planning staff outline 25-year "What's Next Knoxville" comprehensive plan and outreach

Knoxville Knox County Planning staff on April 13 introduced the city's "What's Next Knoxville" comprehensive plan and requested the task force's help reaching residents for a yearlong public-engagement process.

"What is a comprehensive plan? ... It sets out the future vision and priorities for development in the city, and this is about a 25 year timeline," said Jessi Hillman, principal planner with the planning agency. She said the current city guidance is the Knoxville-Knox County general plan adopted in 2003 and that an updated plan would better reflect current conditions and challenges including population growth and rising housing costs.

Hillman said the planning team launched a website and will host seven listening sessions across every city council district April 26'30 and will use pop-up events at block parties, farmers markets and neighborhood gatherings to reach residents who do not attend traditional meetings. "The intent is to have it be kind of like a party-like atmosphere," she said, adding the outreach will include activities for children and adults.

Members asked about data sources and outreach logistics. Planning staff said they use the American Community Survey and maintain a data hub and tools that can support the task force's information needs. One member recommended the task force help identify local leaders who could champion outreach and suggested task force members attend pop-ups to better evaluate requests and help promote events.

Planning staff asked the task force to share event venues and leaders the agency should engage and to help publicize the listening-session schedule. The listening sessions, Hillman said, are the first of many chances for public input; staff urged members to encourage community participation and to use the planning data tools when available.