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Knox County Commission - Vote on Ridgetop Protection Plan
HBAGK Members Take Action!!PLEASE MEET US AT THE HBAGK OFFICE ON MONDAY 11/21/11 around 1:15 PM - 1:30 PM prior to attending the Hillside Vote.
As you know, for the past eight months the Knoxville Chamber, HBAGK and KAAR have been heavily involved as City Council and County Commission have considered MPC’s Hillside & Ridgetop Protection Plan. The Commission is expected to vote on a compromise plan on Monday, Nov. 21 at 2:00 p.m. We need your help!
Throughout these many months the chamber has raised important questions about the effect and cost of the original slope protection plan. Without your involvement and the involvement of the Chamber’s board of directors and other volunteers a plan with many troubling provisions would have been adopted. Fortunately, even MPC has realized the shortcomings of the plan and recommended changes. One more change is needed.
This week, the Chamber recommended an amendment to the plan that would unequivocally state that the plan is advisory. The amendment ensures that Commission and Council will be the final decision maker in land use and zoning decisions and that they can deviate from the slope protection plan at their sole discretion. The amendment simply reads:
Nature of Plan and Legal Effect
This plan and the principles, objectives, policies and guidelines included herein are advisory in nature and constitute non-binding recommendations for consideration in connection with development of steeply sloped areas. The plan is not binding on future land use decisions by City Council, County Commission, MPC, the City or County Boards of Zoning Appeals or any other governmental body. Any provisions of the Knoxville-Knox County General Plan 2033 or any Sector Plan, which are inconsistent with or in excess of the recommendations set forth in this plan shall be deemed modified and/or repealed consistent herewith.
The plan’s proponents are uncomfortable with the amendment despite the fact that they have repeatedly said the Hillside & Ridgetop Plan “is only a plan.” If that is true, it should be clear that it is advisory and the local legislative bodies should not be bound by it. That is all the amendment would do.
Please contact members of the Knox County Commission and urge them to vote in favor of the amendment. Your call or email could be the difference in its adoption.
Three Commissioners in particular need to be contacted on the right to appeal a land use issue to an elected body. That is one of the main purposes of the Brigg’s amendment. Those three Commissioners are Dave Wright, Mike Brown, and Mike Hammond.
It would be very helpful to contact those three Commissioners by phone or email and say the following:
Mr. Commissioner, our County Charter requires that a final appeal on land use matters be made to County Commission. I am asking you to preserve that right by voting to approve the Brigg’s amendment for Hillside and Ridgetop. Will you do that for me? Please call me at (leave your number) if you have any questions.
Thank you.
Leave your name and be polite.
No screaming. No yelling. Two hundred phone calls like that left on answering machines would be perfect. The Commissioners aren’t going to answer the phone. They aren’t going to reply to emails. But this will make them think about the County Charter and their Oath.
KEEP IT SIMPLE. BE POLITE. BE CONCISE.
This is the message we want to get out to our members. This is about the right to appeal. That is all we need to press. We have good speakers to do the rest.
Commission Contact Information
Brad Anders
brad.anders@knoxcounty.org
539-5348(h)
Richard Briggs
richard.briggs@knoxcounty.org
966-5125(h)
Mike Brown**
michael.brown@knoxcounty.org
577-3481(h)
Amy Broyles
amy.broyles@knoxcounty.org
224-6269(h)
Mike Hammond**
mike.hammond@knoxcounty.org
470-8599(h)
Sam McKenzie
sam.mckenzie@knoxcounty.org
524-1458(h)
Tony Norman
tony.norman@knoxcounty.org
524-4301(h)
Jeff Ownby
jeff.ownby@knoxcounty.org
441-6162(c)
Ed Shouse
ed.shouse@knoxcounty.org
584-7858(h)
R. Larry Smith
larry.smith@knoxcounty.org
679-4106(c)
Dave Wright**
dave.wright@knoxcounty.org
687-6677(h)
Knox County Commission - Vote on Ridg...Date and Time
Monday Nov 21, 2011
Location
400 Main St.
Main Assembly Room
Knoxville, TN