KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. — On Wednesday, the Knox County Board of Appeals will consider a request from a neighborhood group asking leaders to stop the development of a gas station in the Concord area.
The Old Concord Residents Association filed the appeal request after the Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission approved a project to build four gas pumps and a store with a restaurant behind Concord Road in July. The project was also approved with stipulations requiring developers to add tree protection fencing and requiring the restaurant's drive-thru to close between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. each day.
The appeal was filed on Aug. 12. In it, the neighborhood group argued that developers misinterpreted zoning ordinances. The group said developers considered internal fire separation as separate buildings, allowing for a larger combined structure. It also said the new structure was "not compatible with the character and scale of the surrounding neighborhoods." The group also brought concerns about traffic and pedestrian safety.
The group asked the Board of Zoning Appeals to overrule the Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission and effectively put a stop to the project. It will meet on Aug. 28 at 1:30 p.m. to consider the request.
