presstalk 865-671-TALK (8255) or editor@farragutpress.com

• In response to (the July 3) Letter to the Editor, I want to address the comments that there are no more apartments planned for the Town of Farragut, and that Town plans and ordinances have been amended that further protect the Town from multifamily developments in the Town Center District.

The Town Center District Zoning Ordinance, paragraph C.11, allows for “Residential/provided located in the upper stories.”  In the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, Table 3.1, the TCD Zoning District is the closest aligned district to the Mixed-Use Town Center Area with a residential density range of 8-to-15 units per acre. 

The C-1 Zoning Ordinance, paragraph F.2.m, allows for the same type of vertical mixed-use development that could allow apartments on the upper floor. 

The density of those apartments would be a question to be determined.  Furthermore, in the proposed Town Center Vision Plan, there are portions of the Ford property that call for vertical mixed use (i.e., residential above commercial). 

Regardless of the assurances, it seems the Vision Plan Steering Committee has left the door open to additional apartments on the Ford property through their inclusion of vertical mixed-use in the commercial areas.

Living between Virtue Road and McFee Road, I support the Turkey Creek Greenway extension. Like many others, we are isolated between two very short gaps in the greenway, including the dangerous curve near the bridge at the west end of Turkey Creek Road.

We would love to be able to walk or ride safely to get to the parks that our tax dollars support (Anchor, The Cove, McFee) and other amenities.

Despite being so close, we can’t reach any of them without walking in the road, which will become even more dangerous with new development. Economic studies show that the presence of a greenway increases property values.

Nevertheless, a handful of property owners are litigating the extension along Turkey Creek.