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Knoxville BZA approves series of variances, denies one large IMU request
Summary
At its June meeting the Board of Zoning Appeals approved variances for church and homeowner projects across Knoxville but denied a developer’s IMU multifamily variance request that the board said lacked hardship.
The City of Knoxville Board of Zoning Appeals approved several property variances at its June meeting and denied a larger mixed‑use multifamily proposal on hardship grounds.
Key approvals included a safety‑minded privacy‑fence variance for Wallace Memorial Baptist Church (allowing a front‑yard privacy fence taller than the 42‑inch code limit to protect a preschool play area), an IMU setback variance at 1712 Liberty Street for a two‑building proposal (granted on topography grounds), accessory‑structure coverage relief for a residential property on Luttrell Street, a 3‑foot corner‑setback reduction at 590 Jonathan Avenue, a rear‑setback addition at 7020 Yorkshire Drive, and a rear‑setback reduction at Riverplace Drive to support an aging‑in‑place addition. The board denied a set of front‑setback variances for a proposed mixed‑use multifamily project on East Weisgarber Road (BZA260044), concluding the applicant had not demonstrated the necessary hardship and that rezoning or other alternative paths should be explored.
The Wallace Memorial request drew discussion about alternative fence designs and playground siting. Dale Mannix, administrator at Wallace Memorial Baptist Church, told the board the fence would help prevent pedestrian interactions and improve child safety, citing a past vehicle collision with a sign on the property. After questions about partial openness and using other green space, the board voted to approve the fence variance on safety grounds.
On the Liberty Street parcel, applicant Eric Forstall explained steep slope and driveway constraints that he said make the rear building location the only practical choice; the board found topography and frontage limits constituted hardship and approved the requested relief.
Board members routinely asked whether rezoning, alternative layouts, or other less‑intrusive site changes had been considered before granting variances. The IMU multifamily application at East Weisgarber Road (Rodney Calvin) prompted the most scrutiny; staff and board members discussed pipeline easements, fire‑safety logistics and the risk of 'spot zoning' in an industrial area. The motion to deny that applicant’s multiple front‑setback variances passed on lack of demonstrated hardship.
Votes at a glance
- BZA260038 (Wallace Memorial Baptist Church, 701 Merchant Drive): Approved (motion based on safety; yes recorded) - BZA260039 (1712 Liberty Street / Eric Forstall): Approved (hardship: topography) - BZA260041 (616 Luttrell Street / Jeff Tallman): Approved (hardship: lot size/shape) - BZA260042 (590 Jonathan Avenue / Nicholas Guess): Approved (hardship: topography) - BZA260043 (7020 Yorkshire Drive / Noel Lewis): Approved (hardship: corner lot geometry) - BZA260044 (1301 East Weisgarber Road / Rodney Calvin): Denied (lack of hardship) - BZA260045 (4807 Riverplace Drive / Taylor Forrester): Approved (topography / layout)
What’s next
Board actions on variances are final at the BZA level; applicants may still pursue administrative or legislative options (for example, rezoning requests) or submit revised plans. Several applicants were directed by staff to explore site alternatives or engage planning staff on rezoning possibilities before returning.
The meeting concluded after the board completed those items and approved administrative minutes.
