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Council rejects BWXT rezoning request for Horizon Center after split vote
Summary
Council failed to rezone 96.5 acres at Horizon Center from IND-2 to IND-3 aimed at accommodating BWXT’s proposed industrial uses, recording a 3–3 tie. BWXT said the rezoning was needed for future radioactive-material work; some council members urged a zoning text amendment to allow similar uses in IND-2 instead.
A rezoning request tied to plans from BWXT drew a divided Oak Ridge City Council on Tuesday, with the measure failing after a 3–3 vote.
Ken Givens, speaking for BWXT, told council the company had purchased the Development Area 5 site in Horizon Center Industrial Park and planned industrial work ranging "from manufacturing uranium centrifuges to potential enrichment," saying the request for IND-3 zoning was to accommodate materials and activities that might require higher industrial zoning and future Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing.
Councilwoman Smith pushed back on the rezoning as written, saying she had "nothing—no objection to the company's project, but just to the aspects of the rezoning." Smith said the city already has industrial-2 sites with radioactive materials and argued the zoning ordinance’s narrative criteria could be updated instead of rezoning the parcel to IND-3, which Smith described as allowing "pretty onerous activities" historically reserved for heavy industry.
After public comment and staff discussion, the council recorded three ayes and three nays; the presiding officer announced that the resolution did not pass. Staff told council they will evaluate preparing a zoning text amendment to allow certain uses in IND-2 so the project’s initial phases—permitted under IND-2—could proceed while the ordinance text is reviewed.
Council members who spoke said they supported the project in general but differed on the appropriate zoning mechanism and on whether an ordinance text change would better balance safety and flexibility.
Next steps identified in the meeting: staff will draft a text amendment option for the IND-2 district for planning commission review; the applicant may proceed with activities that are permitted in IND-2 while the process for any ordinance change proceeds.
