McFee residential expansion mulled
McFee Road will experience exponential residential growth in the not-too-distant future, according to two agenda items discussed during the Thursday, Nov. 19, Farragut Municipal Planning Commission meeting.
A concept plan for the 32-acre Meadows on McFee subdivision was approved, while FMPC held a public hearing and discussion on a proposal to rezone 131 acres, located at the intersection of McFee and Boyd Station roads, from General Single-Family Residential (R-2) to Open Space Mixed Residential Overlay (R-1/OSMR).
Homestead Land Holdings was the applicant and Russ Rackley of Rackley Engineering was the spokesperson for both agenda items.
That second property, according to reports, likely would yield “several hundred house lots.”
The concept plan for Meadows on McFee shows 59 lots on the former Gibson Farm property, and a portion of the “Velma Seal property,” according to agenda documents..
Plans for the subdivision include a main loop street configuration, two access points along McFee Road and open-space areas.
Vice Mayor Louise Povlin led discussion on several specifics of the plan, including walking trail and buffers.
Rackley noted a large presence of power lines on the property likely would impact where walking trails would be located. “We are trying to provide something that flows and works well, but is also realistic,” he said.
“We are not opposed to providing easements for future (developments),” Rackley added when nearby parcels were noted. “We have worked for several months (on a plan) that can be developed and meet the Town ordinance and requirements. I believe what has been submitted can.”
Boyd Station Road property also was discussed.
“It’s a big piece of property obviously,” Shipley said.
“The land actually stretches from McFee to Virtue Road, with about 3,000 feet of frontage along Boyd Station.”
Shipley said any development would require the Town to upgrade Boyd Station Road.
“I’m generally supportive of OMSR (which would allow a mix of attached and detached homes), but I supported it when it was suggested on the Gibson property,” Povlin said. (The Town Board of Mayor and Alderman rejected that request and ultimately voted to rezone the former Gibson property R-1/OSR instead).
Commissioner Jon Greene, vice chair Ed St. Clair and Mayor Ron Williams all spoke in favor of an OSR designation rather than OSMR.
“We prefer detached housing, but this property so unique and large, to provide the best development and meet Town requirements, we need the flexibility to make up some of that land area lost to creating beautiful spaces to creating actual units,” Rackley said. “We are asking for OSMR, as it is consistent with your growth plan. Our request is consistent with your Comprehensive Land Use Plan.”
Rackley said he anticipated the property to yield “a few hundred house lots.”
Two residents had submitted e-mails in advance of the meetings, one supporting the sought zoning change, the other asking for “close” oversight of the hydrology aspects of the project once it gets under way.
In other business:
• FMPC approved a site plan for two parcels, 13036 and 13038 Kingston Pike, owned by Knick and Noah Myers.
The brothers (Noah an FMPC rep) plan to build freestanding commercial buildings in front of Cool Sports, Home of the Icearium. The project also would include shared access, parking, through access to Cool Sports and “provisions to cross-lot connectivity to the east and west,” according to Town documents.
