KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Knox County growth plan had already been approved by the County Commission and the Knoxville City Council before being shot down by Farragut.
"Quite frankly, was really disappointed when the vote happened and pretty surprised," Larsen Jay, Knox County commissioner at large, said.
"I was very disappointed. Very, very disappointed," Terry Hill, Knox County commission chair, said.
One Farragut Alderman who voted against the plan brought up concerns over traffic in the Choto community.
"If this area can not adequately handle the current traffic, how can it possibly handle what's to come in the next 5 to 10 years," Drew Burnette, Alderman Ward 2, said.
"The very things that the alderman objected to, which was the traffic growth and the sprawl are the very things that were addressed in this plan to be corrected," Hill said.
Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs did not attend the meeting, however, shared this statement following the vote.
"I am greatly disappointed with the outcome of last night’s vote by the Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen. Sometimes, when you are in a position of leadership, you must make tough, uncomfortable, decisions because it is the right thing to do. Farragut was at the table throughout the discussions of this critical plan, and we incorporated the changes that they requested. Ultimately, the growth plan would change nothing for Farragut. On the other hand, Knox County is in the midst of a major housing crisis, and also are trying to mitigate urban sprawl. Last night’s decision by only three Farragut aldermen hurts our entire county. Housing prices will continue to skyrocket - a negative for the almost 500,000 people who call Knox County home. Further, this decision will increase our homelessness problem. In the end, we are talking about higher taxes and a lower quality of life. This growth plan addresses all of these issues. And again, it would not change Farragut – something the Farragut leaders requested. At this point, we will look at all possible options, and how to move forward. Above all else, we cannot continue the path we have walked for the past two decades. I promise we will find a solution."
"You said you wanted to be involved," Jay said. "We involved you, and we did the things you wanted us to do. And then we get to the end of the thing and you say you still don't like it. So it's just it's a very, very tough situation right now."
The Mayor plans to address the plan further on Monday, until then it is still up in the air as to what action might be taken.
"I'm not sure the stomach is there to try to reconvene this committee," Hill said. "Farragut was a part of this committee to begin with and appeared to be on board from day one. So to repeat past behavior may not be the wisest, but in the end, it is ultimately the mayor's choice, and whatever his decision is, I will support it wholeheartedly."