South Knox County business Erosion Supply can claim this year’s honor for the most ironic rejection of a zoning change request. That’s cold comfort to owner Robbie Toole whose application for a sector plan amendment and zoning change from agricultural to rural commercial was denied by the Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission and turned down on appeal by the Knox County Commission in July. On Oct. 10, Erosion Supply will take another bite from the apple as the application is heard again by the Planning Commission.
As the name implies, Erosion Supply serves builders with products designed to curb or prevent erosion on hillsides as well as products to cope with stormwater and reinforce roadways and railways. Potential damage from eroding hillsides has sunk building plans in the past in Knox County. In this instance, a company whose business is built around products to protect the environment can’t get approval for a zoning change that would allow it to enhance that business.
In a letter addressed to MPC members and “the Community” that accompanied the application, Toole asked to rezone a “portion of a piece of property on John Sevier Highway.”
The owner went on to explain they wanted to grow items on the rezoned property such as sod, straw, trees and bushes leaving the side adjacent to the river zoned agricultural. Erosion Supply has been in business since 2005 and has a record of supporting various community organizations, none of which apparently mattered to more than a few dissenting neighbors.
Dan Gainer noted the “spot zoning exception” was not supported by the sector plan.
“John Sevier is designated a ‘Scenic Highway’ and the proposed development would absolutely ruin the scenery along the highway on the banks of the French Broad River,” Gainer wrote. (Actually, the requested zoning change was for the road frontage only.) He also worried the development would detract from the “respect and reverence” due the nearby Veterans Cemetery.
Vic Kaminsky expressed a similar concern.
“As a veteran, I think this would be disrespectful to allow any commercial property in the vicinity of the Veterans Cemetery.”
One of the lengthier complaints came from Janice Pritchett who said the planning staff gave “compelling reasons” for turning down the earlier request. A zoning change would “negatively impact the already limited residential section of this highway There are only 2.5 miles of residential area in this section of John Sevier Highway which needs to be maintained as low-density residential. The proposed commercial business would be right at a curve in the road.”
Erosion Supply’s owner did not respond to multiple requests seeking comment on this story.
Larry Van Guilder is the business/government editor for KnoxTNToday.com.