Knoxville Neighborhood Advisory – Vol. 8, No. 24 – Tuesday July 14, 2015
PDF Version: http://bit.ly/NeighborhoodNewsletterVol8No24
1. Linda Hill to Perform at Edgewood Park Event
2. Dedication Set for Everly Brothers Park
3. City Council to Consider Urban Agriculture on Second Reading
4. City Council Okays Lower Sign Heights
5. MPC Backs Office Zoning on Gibbs Drive
6. City Names Foster as Director, Council Appoints New Recorder
7. Sign of the Times: Church Hosts “Active Shooter” Seminar
8. On Thursday, Learn about Solar Energy, LED Lighting
9. Neighborhood and Government Calendar
Published by the City of Knoxville’s Office of Neighborhoods to report news important to Knoxville’s residential neighborhoods. News & calendar deadline: 5 p.m. Mondays.
1. Linda Hill to Perform at Edgewood Park Event
Renowned Knoxville singer and storyteller Linda Upton Hill will perform at the Edgewood Park Neighborhood Association’s free “concert in the park” from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. this coming Thursday, July 16, at Edgewood Park, located beside the North Knoxville branch of Knox County Public Library, 2901 Ocoee Trail.
The neighborhood association invites not only its own neighbors but also residents from surrounding neighborhoods. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. There will be free watermelon and free face painting. No alcohol allowed. For more, call 742-5494.
2. Dedication Set for Everly Brothers Park
The pocket park envisioned by Bearden Council will be dedicated in a ceremony starting at 5:30 p.m. Friday, August 7, at the corner of Forest Park Blvd. and Kingston Pike.
It was Bearden Council member Dennis Owen who first had the idea to honor the famous singing duo Don and Phil Everly, who attended West High School in the 1950s. Bearden Council then took up the cause.
The land was acquired by the State of Tennessee as part of the reconstruction of the adjacent bridge across a rail line. The state Department of Transportation gave the City a renewable lease to use the property as a park, and City Council recently approved the name for the park.
Bearden Council is leading efforts to raise funds to complete the landscaping and other features, including benches, bicycle racks, an artistic centerpiece and memorial plaques. Anyone interested in contributing or learning more can contact Bearden Council at beardencouncil@gmail.com or 865-454-9475.
More information, along with a conceptual design for the park, prepared by the East Tennessee Community Design Center, can be viewed here: http://knoxvilletn.gov/cms/One.aspx?portalId=109562&pageId=277164
3. City Council to Consider Urban Agriculture on Second Reading
Knoxville City Council next week will consider, on second reading, a series of changes to zoning regulations that clarify how, when and where individuals, community groups and businesses can establish community and market gardens throughout the city.
For details about the proposed changes, see: http://knoxvilletn.gov/government/city_departments_offices/sustainability/urban_agriculture_initiative/
Questions or concerns about the proposed changes may be directed to Brian Blackmon, Office of Sustainability, at 215-2065 or bblackmon@knoxvilletn.gov.
Council meets starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 21. The agenda for that meeting will be available by Friday at this location: http://knoxvillecitytn.iqm2.com/Citizens/Default.aspx
Click on the Council meeting date to see the agenda with links to the documents for each agenda item.
4. City Council Okays Lower Sign Heights
Last week, on first reading, Knoxville City Council adopted revisions to the proposed sign ordinance, including lower sign heights.
Currently, signs in the City can be as high as 50 feet in certain areas. By a 6-3 vote, Council capped the height of signs within the City limits at 35 feet within 500 feet of an interstate interchange area, 30 feet on property adjacent to interstate right-of-way, 20 feet on property fronting on federally designated highways (such as Chapman Highway), and 10 feet on all other roadway classifications.
Voting for the reduction in sign height were Council Members Brown, Campen, Della Volpe, Saunders, Stair, and Wallace. Voting against were Council Members Grieve, Palmer, and Pavlis.
Once new sign heights and other new regulations are adopted, all legally existing and newly non-conforming signs will be grandfathered. However, the provisions adopted by City Council strengthen the City’s ability to remove abandoned signs. Moreover, Council also approved language providing that when a change in use occurs at a property, any signage advertising the new use will have to conform with the new sign regulations — including lower heights where applicable. An example of a change in use would be a fast food restaurant that becomes an auto parts store.
The proposed sign ordinance will take effect if City Council reaffirms these decisions on second reading at its regularly scheduled meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21. Just as it did last week, Council may alter specific language in the ordinance on second reading.
5. MPC Backs Office Zoning on Gibbs Drive
The Metropolitan Planning Commission last week recommended office zoning on a large parcel of land at the corner of Gibbs Drive and North Broadway in Fountain City.
Members of the Historic Gibbs Drive Homeowners Association were present to support the office zoning versus the commercial zoning requested by the developer, Smith-Lindsey Development LLC. City Council will take up the matter at its August 4 or August 18 meeting. Council can follow MPC’s recommendation to rezone the property from residential to office, or it can decide to rezone to C-3 per the developer’s request.
See last week’s Neighborhood Advisory for background details.
6. City Names Foster as Director, Council Appoints New Recorder
Dawn Michelle Foster, Deputy Director of Redevelopment, will be promoted to Director, reporting to Deputy to the Mayor and Chief Policy Officer Bill Lyons when current director Bob Whetsel retires next month.
Anne Wallace, the department’s Project Manager, will become Deputy Director.
“We are fortunate to have two such skilled and experienced professionals to move up into these positions,” Mayor Rogero said. “Dawn Michelle and Anne bring a wealth of knowledge, and they are already deeply engaged with the community. These well-deserved promotions will ensure continuity in our many ongoing projects.”
For more on this story, see this press release.
Meanwhile, City Council last week appointed William Johnson as the new City Recorder and clerk of City Council, replacing long-standing Recorder Cindy Mitchell, who is retiring after 36 years of service. Johnson, who begins work Monday, has been employed in the office of Knox County Clerk Foster Arnett.
7. Sign of the Times: Church Hosts “Active Shooter” Seminar
Are you safe at work or church?
Shootings in public places are occurring more frequently, and yet most people lack the necessary experience, training or skills to know how to react.
David Wallace, an expert in this field, will speak on surviving such an event in the community, at work, or at church. This will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, at Payne Avenue Missionary Baptist Church, 2714 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue.
Wallace has over 32 years of combined leadership and technical experience in emergency management and response, anti-terrorism force protection, and other programs. He also led the development of an Active Shooter program that provides in-depth information to federal and contract employees on the best way to survive an active shooter event.
For more, contact the church at 865-524-7234 or payneave@bellsouth.net.
8. On Thursday, Learn about Solar Energy, LED Lighting
Citizens who wish to lower energy bills, improve the environment, and increase the marketability of their homes are invited to a free event at 3 p.m. this Thursday, July 16, at Three Rivers Market, 1100 North Central Street.
ARiES Energy will speak about the fundamentals of solar power, installation, warranties, maintenance, and economics. Participants can learn about low interest rates, tax credit, and TVA incentives for installing solar power and other energy-saving improvements.
You can also view Three Rivers Market’s 50-kilowatt solar array and LED Lighting retrofit. RSVP by calling 865-309-4674 or email robin@ariesenergy.com .
9. Neighborhood and Government Calendar
Include your neighborhood-related event or meeting in this space. Call 215-4382.
Visit http://knoxvilletn.gov/calendar for a complete list of meetings of various city boards and commissions.
If you are a person with a disability who requires an accommodation in order to attend a City of Knoxville public meeting, please contact Stephanie Brewer Cook at scook@knoxvilletn.gov or 215-2034 no less than 72 hours prior to the meeting you wish to attend.
Tuesday, July 14 — 4-5 p.m.
City of Knoxville Greenways Commission
(Second Tuesdays, even-numbered months)
Larry Cox Senior Center, 3109 Ocoee Trail
http://knoxvilletn.gov/government/boards_commissions/greenways_commission/
Lori Goerlich, Parks & Recreation Dept., 215-2807
Tuesday, July 14 — 6 p.m.
Brown Avenue Neighborhood Watch (Second Tuesdays)
Hoitt Ave. Baptist Church, 2121 Hoitt Ave.
Jimmy Ramsey, 637-0243
Tuesday, July 14 — 6-7 p.m.
Norwood Neighborhood Watch – 6 p.m.
Norwood Homeowners Association – 7 p.m.
Monthly on a Tuesday: Jul 14, Aug 11, Sep 8
New Hope Presbyterian Church, 1705 Merchants Road
Lynn Redmon, 688-3136
Wednesday, July 15 — 12 Noon
Eastport/Lee Williams Neighborhood Watch (Third Wednesdays)
Lee Williams Senior Center, 2240 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.
Sylvia Cook, 206-3433, sylviacook5901@comcast.net
Wednesday, July 15 — 6 p.m.
Public Workshop: Transit-Oriented Development
City of Knoxville and Smart Growth America
East Tennessee History Center, 601 South Gay Street
Brian Blackmon, Office of Sustainability, 215-2065, bblackmon@knoxvilletn.gov
Wednesday, July 15 — 6:30 p.m.
Lindbergh Forest Neighborhood Association (Third Wednesdays)
Graystone Presbyterian Church, 139 Woodlawn Pike
Kelley DeLuca, 660-4728, kelleydeluca@gmail.com
Wednesday, July 15 — 7:00 p.m.
Active Shooter Seminar
with Active Shooter Expert, David Wallace
Payne Avenue Baptist Church, 2714 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave
For more, 524-7234 or payneave@bellsouth.net
Thursday, July 16 — Breakfast – 7:30 a.m. Meeting – 8 a.m.
East Knoxville Business & Professional Association (Third Thursdays)
Open to Neighborhood Residents and Leaders
Meeting location varies
Doug Minter, Dminter@knoxvillechamber.com, Knoxville Chamber, 637-4550
http://www.eastknox.org/
Thursday, July 16 — 8:30 a.m.
Historic Zoning Commission (Third Thursdays)
http://knoxvilletn.gov/government/boards_commissions/historic_zoning_commission/
Kaye Graybeal, 215-3795, kaye.graybeal@knoxmpc.org
Thursday, July 16 — 4 p.m.
City Board of Zoning Appeals (Third Thursdays)
Small Assembly Room, City County Building
Pre-Agenda Meeting: 3 p.m. in Room 511
http://knoxvilletn.gov/government/boards_commissions/board_of_zoning_appeals/
Thursday, July 16 — 6 p.m.
Police Advisory & Review Committee (PARC) – Public Meeting
PARC addresses citizen concerns about the Knoxville Police Dept.
Messiah Lutheran Church, 6900 Kingston Pike
http://www.knoxvilletn.gov/PARC
Lisa Chambers, 215-3869, lchambers@cityofknoxville.org
Thursday, July 16 — 7 p.m.
Old Sevier Community Group
(Third Thursdays, January-November)
South Knoxville Elementary School Library, 801 Sevier Avenue
Gary Deitsch, 573-7355, garyedeitsch@bellsouth.net
Thursday, July 16 — 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Third Thursday Music Event (free)
Entertainment: Local Singer/Storyteller Linda Hill
Free face painting! Free watermelon!
Edgewood Park, 3109 Ocoee Trail
Edgewood Park Neighborhood Association
Carole Ann, 742-5494
Saturday, July 18 — 10 a.m.
South Haven Neighborhood Association (Third Saturdays)
Hillcrest United Methodist Church, 1615 Price Ave.
Pat Harmon, 591-3958
Monday, July 20 — 7 p.m.
Historic Fourth & Gill Neighborhood Organization
Board Meeting (Third Mondays except January)
“Birdhouse”/Fourth & Gill Center, 800 North Fourth Avenue
Liz Upchurch, 898-1809, lizupchurch1@gmail.com
Tuesday, July 21 — 6 p.m.
Delrose Drive Neighborhood Watch
(Third Tuesdays in January, March, May, July, September and November)
Riverview Baptist Church, 3618 Delrose Dr.
Corina and John Buffalow, 523-0102
Tuesday, July 21 — 6:30 p.m.
Lonsdale United for Change (Third Tuesdays)
Lonsdale Recreation Center, Stonewall Ave.
Steve Ritter, 973-0877
Tuesday, July 21 — 7 p.m.
Edgewood Park Neighborhood Association (Third Tuesdays, except December)
Larry Cox Senior Center, 3109 Ocoee Trail
http://edgewoodpark.us/
Tuesday, July 21 — 7 p.m.
City Council (Every Other Tuesday)
http://www.knoxvilletn.gov/citycouncil
Agenda: http://knoxvillecitytn.iqm2.com