On Thursday August 10, 2023 the Knox Planning Commission had items 15-19 (Ordianance Amendments) proposed by Knoxville builder, developer R. Bentley Marlow. Marlow has been doing the infill work (homes, density in places where it is possible and needed) He has been before Knoxville City Council talking about the problems with Recode to no avail.
So, he went to Knox Planning aka Knoxville Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission submitted his proposals, paid the fees and was given of August 10, 2023 for the volunteer appointed (by the City Mayor and County Mayor) Planning Commission.
It was set to be political day right away (in my opinion) from the Consent Agenda, when Planning Commissioner Amy Midis, (2019 failed City Council candidate for at Large Seat C) pulled a infill item from the consent agenda. In my opinion, the main reason for volunteer commissioner Midis to pull it was the name on the file R. Bentley Marlow. It had been reviewed by the professional Planning staff but Midis pulled it and voiced her objections and voted against it. Also, during the approval of the agenda Commissioner Nathaniel Shelso attempted to table all but one item. Chairman Tim Hill asked if he could wait until some discussion, so he did.
Item 15, here was a roll call vote 11 in favor and 2 in opposition to staff recommendation (translation, Marlow can pay more fees to appeal and postpone thus as Marlow said is ‘kicking the can down the road” failing to make a decision. Chris Ooten, Vice-Chair; John Huber; Shelso; Marite Perez; Logan Higgins; Miles Biggs; Tamara Boyer; Nancy Barger; Karyn Adams; Midis and Hill, Chair voting in favor. Commissioners Lou Browning and Richard Levenson voting no. Commissioner Eddie Smith was absent. City of Knoxville Deputy Chief Policy Officer Cheryl Ball said the City would likely be ready for a proposal by October. Editorial Comment Insert [not shocked that the Planning meeting is scheduled for October 12 and is right at the Early Voting period October 18-November 2 for the City of Knoxville General Election of November 7, 2023. I mean it is even a greater shock that the City will have a delay and it will likely be the November 9 Planning meeting, two days after the General Election]
Item 16 here and 17 here had three public citizens signed up to speak BUT in the haste to recommend staff recommendation on 16, they forgot the three citizens (Anna, Drew and Dustin) so it passed and when the three were recognized on item 17 (the Chairman asked Drew to speak to 17, Drew stated “well I was signed up for 16′) When Dustin spoke on item 17, he asked that procedurally people signed up be allowed to speak before voting by the Commission on the item. After the discussion of items 15-19, I introduced myself to the three citizens as a/the “internet blogger”. Item 17 Shelso came with a rewrite and it passed.
Item 18 here was another staff recommendation that Marlow can appeal with more fees paid.
Item 19 here was postponed for thirty days because Commissioner Shelso said he didn’t have the time to rewrite a landscaping code. Commissioner Higgins got all giddy and said he would like to do that. Marlow suggested reducing from 70%-50% and we will see what Higgins comes back with. I mean a 20% seems logical, right? So, Shelso motioned to postpone until September, for Higgins to return with a rewrite.
Marlow can appeal the three that were passed with staff recommendation, costing more money for him and his clients that are waiting for housing. Marlow is a candidate for at Large Seat B Knoxville City Council. He and his opponent Debbie Helsley will face off in the General Election of November 7, 2023.
The Planning staff and City of Knoxville staff have met with Marlow and have known of his proposal for awhile. All the time he has asked for what the City of Knoxville wants to do. They have and even last week said they have nothing. City Councilwoman Seema Singh was at the Planning meeting asking the Planning Commission to send this to Knoxville City Council because when Council approved Recode, they were told it is a “living, breathing document”.
