Tops in `24: Farragut growth from Center to southwest side; lawsuit, EZ Stop, pickleball, K-5th
Meanwhile, the Town’s southwestern side along Kingston Pike saw major construction and growth in 2024 with the construction-turned-opening of a second Dollar General store location and Advance Auto Parts, with a Dunkin Donuts location still under construction.
The new shopping center at the corner of North Watt Road and Kingston Pike will have Publix as its anchor, as crews already have constructed the center’s parking lot.
Well under way in this same area is construction of Knoxville Temple for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
As for Town growth along Outlet Drive, an Echo Suites hotel is being proposed near Topgolf, subject to the details being ironed out between Farragut Municipal Planning Commission and Town’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
Growth Plan reversal
And speaking of growth in terms of a countywide Growth Plan update, which had to be approved by all three county entities: Town of Farragut, City of Knoxville and Knox County to be implemented, BOMA voted, on first reading, against the update, with North Ward Alderman Scott Meyer joining South Ward Aldermen David White and Drew Burnette in voting no.
However, Meyer had a change of heart on second reading, joining Mayor Ron Williams and then Vice Mayor Louise Povlin in favor of the update, allowing it to be enacted — with the city and county already on board.
Greenway block
To avoid having a Turkey Creek Greenway extension path running through the property of three homes along Turkey Creek Road, these residents fought Town efforts strong enough to hire Knoxville attorney John Neal to fighting this legally.
Neal said he filed a lawsuit against the Town to block the greenway path, stating that a new state law passed April 24, 2024, “prohibits the condemnation of private property for ‘recreational facilities, recreational purposes or parks.
“... Suddenly, the Turkey Creed Greenway extension was no longer a greenway project (in name),” Neal further stated.
Pickleball decision
After months of deliberation on the exact plan for the Mayor Bob Leonard Park pickleball facility, it was decided by BOMA late in the year to go with a plan featuring nine courts in the park’s western section
EZ Stop versus OCRA
With dozens of outspoken Old Concord Residents Association members at odds with EZ Stop’s desire to build a roughly 7,000-square-foot convenience store on 4.7 acres next to historic Old Concord, approval from Knox County Planning Commission for the company’s plan was, on appeal to Knox County Board of Zoning Appeals, a reversal ruling demanding EZ Stop reduce its size plans.
However, at a Knox County Use on Review Planning meeting Dec. 12, upon hearing the EZ Stop proposal, voted to approve the plans with seven pumps, or 14 points of sale. OCRA could again appeal to the Zoning board at its Feb. 20 meeting.
Traffic System delays
Complete installation of the Town’s Advance Traffic Signal Conrol system — which is expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion in Town by being able to time redlights according to traffic at any given moment — was said to be “five months behind,” as told by Town administrator David Smoak in mid-December.
New school: K-fifth-grade
Following a survey targeting parents, teachers, administrators and the general public in Farragut, combined with Knox County administrative decisions, it was determined the new school to be built on 41 acres behind Ingles shopping center would be kindergarten-through-fifth-grade, as announced in early January.
