Knox County Commission approves multiple rezones, denies a plan amendment and defers tiny‑home proposal

The Knox County Commission on March 16 approved a series of rezoning requests and conditions recommended by county planning staff, denied a comprehensive‑plan amendment after public opposition and deferred consideration of a proposed tiny‑home and RV community to allow more neighborhood outreach.

Planning Director Brooks told the commission that staff and the planning commission recommended approval for most items on the docket as consistent with the Knox County Comprehensive Plan. Applications approved included a commercial plan for a proposed P3 Sportslex with retail and a restaurant at Levelville Road, rezoning for an office/medical site on Levelville Road, and several residential plan rezonings and cleanups. Commissioners also approved a rezoning for a restaurant site on Strawberry Plains Pike.

Why it matters: the votes change allowed uses and densities on properties across portions of South Knox and the sixth commission district, affect traffic and infrastructure conditions tied to development approvals, and set conditions that applicants must meet before building permits are issued.

Votes at a glance - Item 1 (12‑G‑25‑RZ): SH Build Group — PC Plan Commercial and technology overlay at Levelville Road; approved with a Type C landscape buffer on the west side (applicant Scott Bailey). - Item 2 (2‑H‑26‑RZ): ECG Acquisitions LLC — rezoned to OB (Office/Medical) at 608 Levelville Road; approved (applicant Ben Mskelli). - Item 3 (1‑26‑RZ): Kevin Griffin (Ball Camp School Road) — applicant requested PR up to 5 du/acre; commission approved PR up to 4 du/acre subject to two conditions (paving/striping of Ball Camp to Middlebrook Pike; limit on disturbed area in hillside protection); motion passed 6–5. - Item 4 (2‑B26‑RZ): Ball Homes LLC — PR up to 2 du/acre on Buttermilk Road (technical cleanup and connectivity condition); approved. - Item 5 (2‑B26‑PA): James Steener — comprehensive plan amendment from SR to SMR at 3320 Bakertown Road; denied after neighbor opposition and discussion about corridor character and adjacent uses. - Item 7 (2‑F26‑RZ): Clouds Res de Development LLC — requested increase from 4 to 4.3 du/acre on Bayon Beaver Ridge Road; the commission denied the 4.3 increase and left density at 4 du/acre. - Item 9 (2‑26‑RZ): Kelly Graham — Agricultural to CA for a restaurant at 7602 Strawberry Plains Pike; approved. - Item 10 (2‑I‑26‑RZ): Trent Collins — Agricultural to CA for a tiny‑home/RV community; extensively questioned by neighbors and commissioners and deferred 30 days for additional outreach and review.

Details and next steps: approved rezonings will proceed to permitting subject to any conditions noted in the staff reports; applicants must satisfy those conditions and any required infrastructure work before development proceeds. The commission placed the tiny‑home/RV community on the April zoning agenda to allow the applicant to meet with neighborhood groups and provide additional information on site plans and operations.

No formal appeals or further zoning amendments were filed at the meeting; the commission adjourned at the end of its docket.