Neighborhood Advisory #70 - Friday, March 5, 2010
Janice Tocher
Of particular interest - 'Adopt a Park' (Item #5)
I know there are several in the neighborhood who have already 'adopted' Sam Duff Park. I plan to attend the event this Tuesday. If anyone would like to go but needs a ride, let me know.
Also of note:
Thursday, March 18 - 6:30 p.m.
*South* Public Meeting on KAT*s Proposed Bus Route Changes
Cecil Webb Recreation Center, 953 Old Moody Ave.
(near Dogwood Elementary)
www.cityofknoxville.org/kat/
Have a great weekend!
Janice
===================
Knoxville Neighborhood Advisory #70 - Friday, March 5, 2010
1. MPC Revives Consideration of Office-Neighborhood Zone
2. Midway Road Business Park Headed to City, Workshop Scheduled
3. Coalition to Argue for Egg-Laying Chickens in City Yards
4. Mayor Appoints Pelot to NAC, Reappoints Others
5. Neighborhoods, Others Invited to *Adopt a Park*
6. Help Perform CPR on Area Creeks
7. City to Air Plans for Replacing Holbrook Bridge
8. Neighborhood & Community Calendar
9. Upcoming Government Meetings
** This Advisory is produced on most Fridays of the year.
** Ideas and contributions are welcome. Call 215-3232.
** Deadline for Next Issue: Thursday, March 11, 2010.
** May be copied and forwarded via neighborhood e-mail lists and newsletters.
** See past issues at our Website: www.cityofknoxville.org/neighborhoods
** Don*t have Internet access? Call 215-3232 if you need a copy of a particular document.
** Published by Office of Neighborhoods, Community Development Dept., City of Knoxville.
1. MPC REVIVES CONSIDERATION OF OFFICE-NEIGHBORHOOD ZONE
Metropolitan Planning Commission has scheduled a public workshop at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 25, to renew consideration of the proposal for a new office-neighborhood transition zone that has been postponed for some time.
The meeting will be held in the Small Assembly Room at the City-County Building. MPC staff*s most recent version of the R-4 proposal can be found in the *Recent Additions* section of the MPC Website at www.knoxmpc.org.
The zone would serve as an office-neighborhood transition zone and would allow, where appropriate and with a rezoning, certain business and professional offices in houses on the edge of neighborhoods. The residential character of the houses would have to be maintained. The size of signs and allowances for parking are among the elements at issue when the proposal was last debated in 2008.
2. MIDWAY BUSINESS PARK HEADED TO COUNCIL, WORKSHOP SCHEDULED
Amendments to the East Knox County Sector Plan, including allowances for the controversial Midway Road Business Park, will be on City Council*s agenda next Tuesday, March 9, and Council also has scheduled a workshop on the subject later in the week.
Proponents of the business park, which include The Development Corporation of Knox County and The Knoxville Chamber Partnership, contend that the park will bring jobs to the area.
Midway business park opponents include the French Broad Preservation Association and the 8th District Preservation Association. They believe that the park is a classic example of urban sprawl, particularly when many industrial properties are vacant and various business parks have space for lease.
City Council scheduled a workshop on the sector plan for Thursday, March 11, at 5 p.m. in the Small Assembly Room of the City-County Building.
Adoption of the East Knox County Sector Plan, including the proposed business park, would come in the form of an ordinance. Ordinances must be approved on two readings, i.e. in two separate meetings.
Earlier this year, Metropolitan Planning Commission approved the sector plan changes by a vote of 8-4.
3. COALITION TO ARGUE FOR EGG-LAYING CHICKENS IN CITY YARDS
A healthy source of eggs* education for the kids* food security for the family* pet companionship* a good tool to turn compost into fertilizer for the garden* building community ties*
These are some of the benefits of allowing city residents to keep egg-laying hens in backyard chicken coops, according to a group of Knoxville residents calling themselves the Urban Hen Coalition (UHC).
Currently the city code prohibits raising hens as well as roosters inside city limits. But the UHC is proposing a city ordinance which would reverse the ban and allow up to six hens on lots containing 5,000 square feet or less (i.e. a standard 50x100 city lot).
Two ordinance changes would be required. The first ordinance would permit and regulate the keeping of hens (not roosters) inside city limits. The group has already been working with and gained the support of the city*s Animal Control Board on a proposed ordinance, which can be found at the UHC Website:
http://knoxvillepermacultureguild.ning.com/group/knoxvillechickens
Click on *Approved Proposal to be Sent to City Council*.
In its very first paragraph, the proposed ordinance *recognizes that adverse neighborhood impacts may result from the keeping of domesticated chickens as a result of noise, odor, unsanitary animal living conditions, unsanitary waste storage and removal, the attraction of predators, rodents, insects, or parasites, and non-confined animals leaving the owner*s property.*
The ordinance, which was crafted by the Animal Control Board with input from the UHC and the city*s Law Dept., seeks to allay concerns by proposing a series of licensing standards and requirements. For example, hens would have to be kept in a fenced enclosure at all times, and chicken coops would need to be of a certain size and placed no less than 10 feet from the abutting property line.
Because animal control comes under the jurisdiction of the Knoxville Police Dept., the proposed ordinance is now under consideration by Police Chief Sterling Owen, IV.
At some point, if the first ordinance is adopted, proponents would need to seek approval from Metropolitan Planning Commission and City Council for a second ordinance to change the zoning laws to allow the keeping of hens in residential zones inside city limits.
This issue will be on the agenda of the March meeting of the Neighborhood Advisory Council, where UHC representatives will make a presentation and then answer questions from the Council. Opportunity will be provided for members of the general public to ask questions and make comments.
The NAC -- the group of neighborhood leaders and community activists who provide input and feedback to the City on neighborhood-related issues - meets at 4:30 p.m. next Wednesday, March 10, at the CAC/Luke Ross Building, 2247 Western Ave. Turn off Western Avenue onto Major Street and park in the rear of the building.
(This meeting was postponed in February due to inclement weather.)
Neighborhood groups are invited to send a representative to participate in the discussion of the issues involved. For more on the Neighborhood Advisory Council, see www.cityofknoxville.org/neighborhoods.
4. MAYOR APPOINTS PELOT TO NAC, REAPPOINTS OTHERS
Mayor Bill Haslam has tapped former City Council Member Barbara Pelot to serve as an at-large member on the Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC).
She assumes a new position (Seat B) that was created when the NAC was expanded last year. The current term of that seat expires in one year.
Meanwhile, the Mayor has reappointed Polly Doka, Whitney Stanley, Charlotte Davis and Jody Mullins to new three-year terms on the Council.
A resolution expressing support for the appointments is on City Council*s agenda for next Tuesday, March 9.
Two seats on the NAC remain vacant. Neighborhood and community leaders interested in serving may contact David Massey, neighborhoods coordinator, at 215-3232. See www.cityofknoxville.org/neighborhoods for more information.
5. NEIGHBORHOODS, OTHERS INVITED TO *ADOPT A PARK*
Mayor Bill Haslam and the city*s Parks and Recreation Department will launch the City*s new Adopt-a-Park program at 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 9, at Tyson Park, and the public is invited.
Neighborhood associations, schools, youth groups, churches, businesses and other organizations all have an opportunity to adopt a park in their area and make it an even better place for everyone to enjoy. Individuals may also participate.
Some individuals or groups may opt to adopt a portion of a park, like a ball field or a greenway, and work on improving it. Volunteers will work with Parks and Recreation staffers on a variety of projects such as painting buildings and bridges, removing graffiti, picking up litter, repairing equipment, and monitoring and reporting on needs for a park or specific park amenity.
Several groups have already committed to the Adopt-a-Park program, including the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, Pluto Sports, and the Society for Creative Anachronisms. Representatives of those organizations will attend the March 9 event to announce their commitment to adopting a park.
To sign up as a volunteer for one of the 81 city parks or 40 miles of greenways, or to learn more, contact Sarah Brown by dialing 311 or emailing her at adopt...@cityofknoxville.org.
In exchange for their service, volunteers will receive an official *Adopt-a-Park* sign posted in the park with their name on it, recognition on the park*s web page, and cleanup materials provided by the City.
*We*ve had many volunteers in our parks in the past, but we wanted to do something more official,* said Joe Walsh, director of Knoxville Parks and Recreation. *We are lucky to have the quality of parks we do in Knoxville, and we*re eager to see how the future partnerships we make with the community will improve parks for everyone.*
For more information, visit www.cityofknoxville.org/recreation.
6. HELP PERFORM CPR ON AREA CREEKS
Water Quality Forum, Keep Knoxville Beautiful and various community partners, including neighborhood groups, will be out in force on Saturday, March 20, performing CPR on the area*s creeks and watersheds, including greenways.
Volunteers are needed, and they say it*s a load of fun to pick up a load of trash.
The CPR (Clean, Protect & Restore) event is an annual effort to clean up at least a portion of the tons of waste that are dumped along streams or in areas where the trash can easily makes its way through our storm water system into our waterways.
Here are the event locations and other information. Most events begin at 10 a.m. Be sure to wear old clothes and good shoes. Gloves and trash bags will be provided. The first 50 volunteers at each site will get a free t-shirt!
** First Creek corridor at the Northgate Shopping Center. Register on the side entrance of the shopping center next to K-Mart and across from Buddy*s Barbeque.
** Third Creek along its greenway trail. Register near the Tyson Park tennis courts located next to the Concord Avenue Park entrance.
** Halls Crossroads community and Beaver Creek flowing through it. Register in the parking lot of the Hall Crossroads Women*s League Clothes Closet parking lot at the corner of Highway 33 and Cunningham Rd.
** Upper First Creek from old Kroger*s north toward Fountain City Park. Meet at the old Kroger parking lot. Cosponsored by Fountain City Town Hall. Contact Mark Campen at 414-5593.
** Lower First Creek corridor along its greenway trail below the Broadway Shopping Center on Luttrell Street. (Turn right off of Broadway onto Cecil Avenue; take first right onto Luttrell Street). Co-sponsored by Old North Knoxville which will provide lunch. Contact Cynthia Nelson-Runyan at cynthias...@yahoo.com.
** Goose Creek throughout Mary Vestal Park. Register at the Park located on Maryville Pike under the Park*s pavilion.
** Lonsdale Community -Texas St. / Minnesota St. Area, Sam E. Hill School area. Register at the picnic table in the Sam E. Hill Park facing the Sam E. Hill School.
In the event of inclement weather, the Water Quality Forum will announce the postponement on its Website -- www.waterqualityforum.org -- by 8 a.m. March 20. The event would be delayed until Saturday, March 27.
For more, contact Gwen at 215-5899 or e-mail CPRKno...@gmail.com if you have any questions regarding CPR and how you may volunteer.
7. CITY TO AIR PLANS FOR REPLACING HOLBROOK BRIDGE
The City of Knoxville*s Engineering Department will host a public meeting on the planned replacement of the Holbrook Drive Bridge from 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, March 16 at the First Baptist Church of Fountain City, 2801 Holbrook Drive.
Preliminary plans for the new bridge will be presented at the meeting, and there will be an opportunity for public input. The bridge is a two-lane structure located on Holbrook Drive over Fountain Road.
The bridge must be replaced because it has received a poor rating from Tennessee Department of Transportation bridge inspectors, and the vertical clearance to the bottom of the bridge from Fountain Road is substandard. The bridge beams have been struck by trucks several times in recent years.
Preliminary plans call for widening the bridge to accommodate sidewalks and bicycle lanes on both sides of the structure.
The project could begin as early as this summer or as late as sometime in 2011. It will take up to seven months to finish the project, which will cost $1.4 million, 20% from the city and 80% from the federal government.
8. NEIGHBORHOOD & COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Include your neighborhood-related event or meeting in this space. Call 215-3232.
Monday, March 8
Deadline for Proposals
Neighborhood Small Grants Program
East Tennessee Foundation and City of Knoxville
http://www.easttennesseefoundation.org/grants/competitive/nsgp.html
Wednesday, March 10 - 11:30 a.m.
Community Forum (every second Wednesday)
Baptist Senior Health Center, 7009 Kingston Pike
Contact Sue Mauer at 690-0269.
Wednesday, March 10 - 4:30 p.m.
Neighborhood Advisory Council
(Every Second Wednesday except July and Dec.)
CAC/Luke Ross Building, 2247 Western Avenue
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/neighborhoods
Contact David Massey at 215-3232.
Thursday, March 11 - 6 p.m.
Burlington Homeowners & Residents Association
Monthly Meeting (second Thursdays)
Greater Warner Tabernacle AME Zion Church
3800 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. (side entrance)
Monday, March 15 - 7 p.m.
Historic Fourth & Gill Neighborhood Organization
Board Meeting (third Mondays)
Meeting Place Varies
Contact Gavin Luter at dgavi...@gmail.com.
Thursday, March 18 - 4-8 p.m.
KUB Tree Trim Policy Review Panel
(Opportunity for citizen comment at the end)
KUB headquarters, 445 S. Gay Street
www.kub.org
Saturday, March 20 - All Day
Urban Wilderness Challenge
Outdoor activities in Urban Wilderness & Historic Corridor
Registration Required
Legacy Parks Foundation / 525-2585
www.legacyparks.org
Saturday, March 20 - 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
CPR (Clean Protect Restore) Cleanup Event
Six Locations Around Town
Water Quality Forum, Keep Knoxville Beautiful, Neighborhood Groups
Contact Gwen at 215-5899.
Visit www.waterqualityforum.org.
Monday, March 22 - 6 p.m.
Community Meeting
Preservation and Educational Opportunities of the
First United Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Mechanicsville
Moses Teen Center, 220 Carrick Street
Dr. Mary Whaley, 524-4680, or Chad Seviers, 637-0484, x1525
Thursday, April 1 - 6 p.m.
Partnership for Neighborhood Improvement (PNI)
Monthly Board Meeting (every first Thursday)
Cansler YMCA, Fifth Ave. & Jessamine St.
Contact Gwen Winfrey at 215-2120.
Monday, April 5 - 5:30 p.m.
COIN - Council of Involved Neighborhoods
(First Mondays)
CAC/Luke Ross Building, 2247 Western Avenue
http://www.councilofinvolvedneighborhoods.org
Contact Dave Gartner at dgar...@fs.fed.us, 862-2066 (w) or 573-2772 (h).
Tuesday, May 4 - 7 p.m.
Knox Greenways Coalition
(First Tuesdays, odd-numbered months)
Temple Beth El, 3037 Kingston Pike
www.knoxgreenwayscoalition.org
Contact Betty Schohl, 687-4617, bsc...@usit.net
Saturday, May 15 - 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Community Day
Alice Bell Spring Hill Neighborhood Association
New Harvest Park, 4775 New Harvest Lane
9. UPCOMING GOVERNMENT MEETINGS
All meetings will be held in either the Large or Small Assembly Room unless otherwise noted. For a complete list of meetings of various city boards and commissions, visit http://www.cityofknoxville.org/calendar/.
If you are a person with a disability who requires an accommodation in order to attend a public meeting, please contact Stephanie Brewer Cook at 215-2034 or sc...@cityofknoxville.org no less than 48 hours prior to the meeting you wish to attend.
Today through March 25
Knoxville Area Transit
Offering presentations to neighborhoods and civic groups about the new Transit Center and proposed changes to bus routes. Call to schedule a speaker.
Contact Belinda Brill at 215-7828 or bbr...@katbus.com.
Tuesday, March 9, and Tuesday, March 23 - 7 p.m.
City Council (every other Tuesday)
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/citycouncil/
Agenda: http://www.cityofknoxville.org/citycouncil/agenda.pdf
Thursday, March 11 - 1:30 p.m.
Metropolitan Planning Commission
(Every Second Thursday)
http://www.knoxmpc.org
Agenda: http://agenda.knoxmpc.org
Thursday, March 11 - 5 p.m.
City Council Workshop
East County Sector Plan & Midway Road Business Park
Monday, March 15, and Monday, April 5 -- 5 p.m.
Knox County School Board Work Session
(Usually Every Third Monday and Monday before regular meeting)
Andrew Johnson Building, 912 South Gay Street
http://knoxschools.org/
Tuesday, March 16 - 5-7 p.m.
Public Meeting - Dept. of Engineering
Review & Discuss Plans for Replacing Holbrook Drive Bridge
First Baptist Church of Fountain City
2801 Holbrook Drive / Fountain City
Tuesday, March 16 - 5:30 p.m.
*North* Public Meeting on KAT*s Proposed Bus Route Changes
UNITE Building, 1124 North Broadway
www.cityofknoxville.org/kat/
Thursday, March 18 - 8:30 a.m.
Historic Zoning Commission (third Thursdays)
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/boards/historic.asp\
Thursday, March 18 - 12 p.m.
KUB Board of Commissioners (third Thursdays except July)
Historic Miller*s Building - 445 S. Gay St.
See www.kub.org. Click on *About Us* on top of the page.
Thursday, March 18 - 6:30 p.m.
*South* Public Meeting on KAT*s Proposed Bus Route Changes
Cecil Webb Recreation Center, 953 Old Moody Ave.
(near Dogwood Elementary)
www.cityofknoxville.org/kat/
Monday, March 22 - 2 p.m.
Knox County Commission
(Every fourth Monday, Jan.-Oct.) (Third Monday, Nov.-Dec.)
www.knoxcounty.org/commission
(Agendas can be downloaded. Click on Agendas and then on Agenda
Committee.)
Thursday, March 25 - 3:30 p.m.
Better Building Board
(Last Thursday, Jan.-Oct. First Thursday, Dec.)
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/boards/betterbuilding.asp
Thursday, March 25 - 6 p.m.
Public Workshop
Proposal for R-4 Transitional Office/Neighborhood Zone
Metropolitan Planning Commission
www.mpc.org
Friday, March 26 - 8 a.m.
Advisory Board
Ten Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness
Knox County Public Defender*s Office
1101 Liberty Street
http://knoxtenyearplan.org/progress/
Wednesday, April 7 - 5 p.m.
Knox County School Board (Every first Wednesday)
Andrew Johnson Building, 912 South Gay Street
http://board.knoxschools.org
Thursday, April 8 - 5 p.m.
City Council Workshop
Community Development Dept.
Five Year Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan.
Wednesday, April 14 - Thursday, April 29
Early Voting
Knox County Primary Election
School Board, County Commission, Sheriff, etc.
http://knoxcounty.org/election/2010_elections.php
Tuesday, May 4 - 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Election Day
Knox County Primary Election
School Board, County Commission, Sheriff, etc.
http://knoxcounty.org/election/2010_elections.php
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Deadline for Next Issue: Thursday, March 11, 2010.
Submit to: neighb...@cityofknoxville.org
Or Call David Massey at 215-3232
William Donegan
William J. Donegan
From: Janice Tocher <jto...@bellsouth.net>
To: South Woodlawn Neighborhood Association <sw...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Fri, March 5, 2010 6:54:08 PM
Subject: Neighborhood Advisory #70 - Friday, March 5, 2010
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