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Draft landscaping, buffer and hillside rules would boost native species and set slope disturbance limits
Summary
The draft sets landscape and buffer standards (including a 40% landscape-area metric and a proposed 60% minimum native-species component for required screening), creates tiered buffer yards and introduces tree‑preservation credits; it also limits disturbance on slopes using slope bands with progressively lower allowable disturbance.
Knox County staff presented a comprehensive set of landscaping and hillside protections intended to reduce stormwater impacts, enhance screening and preserve natural resources.
The presenter described a new set of landscaping requirements and a tiered buffer system. Staff proposed that 40 percent of required landscape area meet identified standards and that screening plantings include at least 60 percent native species. Commissioners asked for clarity on definitions — for example, whether 'native' would be a preferred list and how to handle evergreens for winter screening — and staff said they will publish a preferred-plant list and consider input from UT/Knox County Extension.
A new tree‑preservation credit was introduced: retained healthy trees will count toward landscape requirements at a baseline 2:1 ratio, with higher credit ratios for larger or higher‑value species. Staff said the credit is intended to discourage clear‑cutting and to reward preservation during development.
On hillside protection, staff described slope bands with capped disturbance percentages: slopes under 15 percent are treated as buildable; the draft limits disturbance to 50 percent on 15–25 percent slopes, 20 percent on 25–40 percent slopes and 10 percent for slopes over 40 percent, with revegetation and slope-restoration requirements where disturbance is allowed. Participants raised concerns about clay soils and the effectiveness of revegetation; staff said thresholds and revegetation details will be refined in the draft and through further review.
Staff noted enforcement would be complaint-driven for many landscaping issues and that draft language adds maintenance and enforcement provisions tied to approved landscape development plans.
