West Hills Concerned About Planned Rezoning and Apartments

West Hills Concerned About Planned Rezoning and Apartments

CHS/Tennova Applies to Change Half of Medical Park Zoning to Allow Apartment Development

It was recently discovered Tennova’s parent corporation Community Health System has filed an application to rezone the south 50-plus acres of wooded, hillside land from Agriculture to RN-5 Medium Density Residential (MDR).

Such a change would permit the construction of apartments and town homes at a density of up to 25 units per acre.

The West Hills Community Association shares the concerns of our neighbors on Ridgerock, Stockton, and Wesley, and many other homeowners and residents.

The WHCA officers and board voted to call a Special Community Meeting and invite the community to attend and become educated about plans and the impact on our community.

WHCA Special Community Meeting Set 7PM, Monday, August 22 at the Church of the Nazarene

West Hills Community Invited to Special Called Meeting Regarding Proposed Rezoning and Impact 

At 7 PM on August 22 at the Church of the Nazarene across the street from WH Elementary School, WHCA is hosting a special called meeting for residents of the West Hills community regarding the current application to rezone the south half of the Tennova Medical Park. Current zoning for this section of the Tennova property is zoned Agriculture (AG).

The original July 14 hearing date has been postponed to Thursday, October 6.

The application before Knox Planning Commission is to change the zoning to RN-5 (Medium Density Residential). This new classification will allow development to include apartments and can allow up to 25 units per acre. The interested developer is Dominion Group based in Knoxville. The owner is CHS/Tennova based in Franklin.

Both organizations have been invited to attend, share information, and address community concerns. Confirmed to speak is David Arning, Vice President of Development with Dominion Group. Mr. Arning will share Dominion Group’s plans for the south half of the Tennova Medical Park site if the current rezoning applications are approved.

There are two additional applications under consideration: a variance in the One Year Plan and Stream Protection designation along both the creek bed bisecting the medical park and the section of Fourth Creek on the property. The current One Year Plan (OYP) limits the options to reclassify the zoning and does not include RN-5.

THE COMMUNITY’S CONCERNS

Among the concerns expressed by neighbors so far are

the following issues:

• Jeopardizing the integrity of the West Hills low density residential (LDR) community and property values

• Additional strain to overpopulated schools serving West Hills families

• Excessive traffic on Old Weisgarber Road resulting in added traffic congestion and unsafe driving conditions (WHCA will request a traffic study prior to any review of rezoning applications)

• Impact on storm water management system and the Fourth Creek watershed

• Detrimental effect on property values of existing homes adjacent to and in immediate vicinity of proposed development

• Change in zoning requires waiving the One Year Plan which specifies the current Agriculture zoning may be amen ed to AG, RN-1 (West Hills and Ridgerock properties), EN, and RN-2—all of which fall within the general classification of Low Density Residential (6 units per acre or less) as a general description.

• If zoning is changed to RN-5, Ridgerock will become a peninsula of LDR properties sandwiched by apartments along its north and south perimeters

• RN-5 allows up to 25 units per acre (classified medium density residential by Planning Commission definition)

• Existing and planned inventory of apartments in and around West Hills is 3,475 existing units, 318 planned units north of Walmart/Sam’s Club, and across Kingston Pike there are more than 1,000 units, general classification of Low Density Residential (6 units per acre or less) as a general description.

• If zoning is changed to RN-5, Ridgerock will become a peninsula of LDR properties sandwiched by apartments along its north and south perimeters

• RN-5 allows up to 25 units per acre (classified medium density by Planning Commission definition)

• Existing and planned inventory of apartments in and around West Hills is 3,475 existing units, 318 planned units north of Walmart/Sam’s Club, and across Kingston Pike there are more than 1,000 units.