T-homes, apartments are closer to reality
Developers of Kingston Pike Villages apartments and Watt Road Townhomes can proceed with their developments providing they meet Town staff’s conditions.
During its meeting Thursday, Sept. 15, Farragut Municipal Planning Commission approved SITE Inc.’s site plan for Phase 1 of Kingston Pike Villages and Robert Campbell & Associates’ concept plan for the townhomes, both with conditions attached.
Kingston Pike Villages, which is zoned Planned Commercial Development, is planned for property across from Cool Sports Home of the Icearium near the South Watt Road-Kingston Pike intersection.
The main concern was the developers’ request to amend its plan, replacing areas from the approved curb and gutter to extruded curb.
“Since this was considered a lower-aesthetic product, the Town engineer (Darryl Smith) was not comfortable making the decision and asked that this be taken to the Planning Commission,” Community Development director Mark Shipley said.
He added SITE Inc. also wanted to reduce the number of bicycle parking spaces and remove some sections of retaining walls “by grading the affected areas to a finished slope that would not exceed 2.5:1.”
While FMPC approved the changed plan, Commissioners asked for more detail regarding the retaining wall and areas to be graded.
Similarly, Commissioners approved the concept plan for 30 townhomes, 25,000-square-feet of commercial/office space, a dog park, walking trail and rain gardens on a 9.2-acre tract at 421 N. Watt Road, near Harrison Road and Mayor Bob Leonard Park. The tract was rezoned in February 2022 from General Commercial (C-1) to Neighborhood Convenience Commercial. “The concept plan addresses different design objectives of the NCC district,” Shipley said.
However, this concept plan also came with “subject to’s” from staff, with which the developer is expected to comply. For instance, the plan must include crosswalks on one area and ensure boundaries with Loudon County are correct.
On another note, FMPC approved preliminary plans for Phase 4 of McFee Park improvements, which include permeable paver parking lots with 127 new parking spaces and a trailhead. Construction cost estimate is $1.9 million.
