Knoxville — Two proposed new developments in Hardin Valley failed to win approval from city and county planners.
The Knoxville-Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission says Hardin Valley is the fastest growing area in Knox County.
On Thursday, the MPC voted against a controversial proposal from Ball Homes to build another new neighborhood near Pellissippi State Community College.
The board also voted down another proposed neighborhood.
MPC did approve one development, the Coward Mill subdivision. But while the developers originally requested 118 lots, MPC only approved 35.
It's a win for some neighbors that are worried the area is growing too fast.
"We completely understand why people want to move into Hardin Valley," Kim Frazier said.
Frazier lives in Hardin Valley, and she wants what's best for the community.
"It's a great place to raise a family," she said.
That's why she helped start Hardin Valley Planning Advocates.
"In hopes to work with county officials, MPC, the school board, to manage growth," she said.
It's growth Hardin Valley's seen a lot of.
MPC had nine different agenda items Thursday deciding on parcels of land in the area.
The items were mostly developers looking to get residential zoning to add homes.
But Frazier's concern is whether the community can support all the development.
"The growth in Hardin Valley is outpacing the attention that needs to be placed upon basic infrastructure," she said.
The Hardin Valley group got the attention of MPC.
"All these items coming together are good," Executive Director of MPC, Gerald Green, said. "We've talked with Ms. Frazier and Ms. Koller and the community group they're trying to form. I think that will be a real advocate for better planning and infrastructure development in Hardin Valley."
He said the Hardin Valley Planning Advocates made good points to the board.
"I think the commission is getting a real sense of the need to look comprehensively at the development activity and not just the use of the land, but how the use affects the school system, the transportation infrastructure," Green said.
Green said MPC is working on a transportation study for Hardin Valley.
It's still in the early stages, but it will encourage infrastructure growth in the area.