KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Advance Knox, an integrated land-use and transportation plan based on research and community input, has announced the second round of community sessions.
Three in-person events are scheduled to present scenarios and strategies based on data analyzed by the project team, as well as input gathered earlier this spring.
"It really is the opportunity for folks out there to tell us what they want to see," knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs said. "We don't want where things as they are now, which has caused sprawl, has caused housing prices to explode and has caused the lack of services in parts of the county."
Research shows Knox County leaders expect more than half a million people to live there by 2030.
The events are:
- Sunday, Oct.2 at New Hopewell Elementary School from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Monday, Oct. 3 at Gresham Middle School from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, Oct. 4 at Cedar Bluff Middle School from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Advance Knox is an effort to create a specific and solid vision to guide the county's growth over the next 20 years. The reports and plans gathered during this effort can be used to guide commissioners on any issues that arise during that time, ranging from zoning decisions to county policies.
"We have very restrictive zoning in some parts of the county, which are no longer rural or agricultural, but they're still treated as such," Jacobs said. "We can't have more units per acre. We can't have commercial and retail."
If you can't make any of the in-person events, there is a virtual participation event at noon on Wednesday, Oct. 5. You can register here for that event.
Scenario information and opportunities to provide input online will be available on the Advance Knox website after the in-person events conclude.
“This is an exciting part of the process that will help us maintain our hometown charm and ensure our community is a place where everyone, especially young people starting out, can afford to live,” Jacobs said. "I’m looking forward to getting feedback from the community on these scenarios.”
If you or someone you know requires special accommodations to attend a workshop, call the Mayor’s office at (865) 215-2005 to coordinate.