letter to the editor
Response to April 3 Letter from Town vice mayor
In response to Vice Mayor (Louise) Povlin’s’ Letter to the Editor, readers should be made aware of what Michael Wilson and myself actually asked the Town to consider. There are essentially three areas of contention that we have with the current Growth Plan Amendments.
One, strengthen the language regarding the maximum allowable density in the Rural Living placetype (i.e., Choto). The initial recommendation was to simply remove the specific zoning district from the Knox County Land Use Plan.
Second, to include language that, at a minimum, requires traffic impact studies for developments in the rural area.
This language is being deleted from the current plan. We would prefer to see even tighter connections made between new developments and requirements to improve roads to handle the higher capacities.
Third, there is a large tract of land in western Hardin Valley that is being changed from Rural to Planned Growth. This will increase density and significantly impact pass-through traffic in Farragut.
The argument for doing this is that some of the land is already developed; however, there is a lot of vacant land that will be included in this area and ripe for higher density development.
Those are our three concerns. Yes, we did ask the BOMA to vote against the Growth Plan Amendments so that these issues could be addressed.
So, the under the (Mayor Ron) Williams and Povlin administration, if you ask questions or raise concerns such as these, the Vice Mayor writes that you “…conducted another fearmongering campaign…”
In her mind, raising these issues creates “causalities” as though this was a war.
Is this how representative government is supposed to work? Last I checked, we have a First Amendment right to redress our government.
On a separate note, Mr. Wilson has e-mailed these concerns to the Knox County Mayor’s Office. During a radio interview this last Sunday, they advised that their office is speaking with the (Knox County) Commissioners regarding removal of the zoning district that allows for up to five units per acre.
We do not know what will come of this request, but it appears the county, unlike Farragut, is willing to relook at this concern.
We will continue to work through the Knox County Mayor’s Office and the Knox County Commission as they work through their plans and ordinances. We had hoped that our Town leadership would listen and be proactive.
It appears that this is not to be, as the Town of Farragut is likely to approve the amended Growth Plan as written on Thursday.
Knox County has had a Growth Policy Plan since 2001. The Mayor and Aldermen are voting on an amended Growth Policy Plan.
Mike Mitchell, Farragut
Editor’s Note: All Letters to the Editor from any citizen must have a minimum four-week period between publication — not to exceed 600 words — and must not have inaccurate information, such as wrong statistics, from which to form an opinion. We also reserve the right to reject publication based on factors to include, but not be limited to, threats, name-calling and foul language.
