Boring Road corridor changes?
Action on the Boring Road corridor highlights Farragut Municipal Planning Commission action when it will vote on a proposed change to the corridor area on the Town’s Future Land Use Map during its meeting in Farragut Town Hall Thursday, Oct. 20.
“The public is invited to provide feedback before the vote,” a Town press release stated.
Citizens’ reactions at previous Town public meetings have been mixed concerning staff’s recommended changes. While some are seeking lower density designation on the map, others expressed fears that lower density could lower some property values.
“The FLUM is a planning document meant to guide development toward what the community wants,” Community Development director Mark Shipley stated. “In recent years, a steering committee, made up of elected officials, staff members and the community has solicited feedback about developing areas along Watt Road, Outlet Drive and McFee Road.
“Each of those studies has resulted in changes to the FLUM,” he further stated. “The map now needs to be updated to reflect current development patterns in the Boring Road corridor area.
“Three public workshops specific to the Boring Road corridor area were well-attended, and feedback from these workshops was reviewed with the steering committee on May 23,” the release stated.
The Planning Commission held a workshop on the proposed changes during its Aug. 18 meeting.
“When the Land Use Plan was updated in 2012, the former Ingles building was in poor condition and the area was considered a good location for a mixed-use neighborhood if the building was demolished,” Shipley said. “It has since been renovated and remains a commercial property. Also, other higher density residential housing was approved in Farragut, reducing the need for such development.
“Tracts that front on Boring Road have recently been purchased for estate lots, even though the current FLUM shows low- and medium-density residential, rather than very low density residential,” he added.
“If circumstances have changed, we need to update our land use plan. It’s not a static document, but a dynamic one. We need to recognize the changes that are happening in the larger community.”
