After lengthy debate, county approves rezoning for proposed Hendren Chapel RV community in 6-5 vote

Knox County commissioners approved a rezoning request for a proposed 34-site, short-term RV community on West Hendren Chapel Road after extensive public comment and an extended commission debate that ended with a 6-5 substitute vote.

Applicant Trent Collins (speaker 10) said his proposal would provide a managed, short-term RV community with an intended typical stay of three to six months for traveling workers and others; he told the commission he had reduced density, preserved most mature trees and planned low-profile, down-facing pedestal lights. Collins said customers would typically reserve sites and that sites would be towable, not permanent foundations.

Neighbors and area residents voiced the strongest opposition. Bob Thompson (speaker 11) and Cheryl Nelson (speaker 20) told the commission the parcel is surrounded on three sides by low-density residential and agricultural properties; they said the site's hillside makes the development highly visible and raised concerns about large-RV turning radiuses, traffic safety at nearby curves, and the potential for a commercial "peninsula" in a rural area.

Director Snowden (speaker 15) reviewed access standards, saying the proposed driveway location provides sight distance and would meet county standards but that certain approach radii (notably near Chapman Highway) could make turns difficult for large towed vehicles. He noted that direct access from Chapman Highway would require TDOT approval and that TDOT might limit the county to a ride-in/ride-out condition or require turn-lane improvements.

Commissioners pressed a number of issues: whether the proposed use is allowed under the future UDO draft in that area (staff said the draft MUCC zone would not currently allow recreational-vehicle lodging), whether to require a final development plan before approving the rezoning, the appropriate type of landscaping buffer along residential borders (type A vs. type C), and how to enforce a "short-term" occupancy limit when transient use can effectively become lengthy.

Commissioner Fox (speaker 21) proposed a set of restrictive conditions: a 30-foot type A screen along much of the perimeter, no access from West Hendren Chapel (access to be obtained from Chapman Highway), and a requirement that the applicant seek TDOT permission for any Chapman Highway access. The applicant replied that Chapman Highway access would be costly (Collins estimated TDOT and turn-lane work could cost on the order of hundreds of thousands of dollars) and said he could not accept a condition that effectively required a Chapman Highway entrance.

Commissioner Durrett (speaker 4) offered a substitute motion to approve the rezoning per the planning commission's recommendation (i.e., relying on code-required buffers and design review rather than the more prescriptive set of conditions proposed by Commissioner Fox). After a short break to resolve a technical issue, the commission voted on the substitute motion; the substitute passed 6-5.

The meeting record shows several outcomes to be followed up: staff will require an adequate site design showing turning radiuses and access compliance; required buffering per county code will apply; and the applicant will proceed with land-development and site-plan requirements before construction. Commissioners and residents agreed that on-the-ground access and sight-distance work will be important next steps.