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Our attorney, Tom Hale, made the case that the Metropolitan Planning Commission has the authority to require transparency and community input involving any development on the Bailey Farm. His primary source? A memorandum filed by the family with the MPC back in 1993, when the property was rezoned from agricultural to residential. His request was simple: Let’s follow the guidelines originally established for the property by the Bailey Family and the MPC.
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The Metropolitan Planning Commission granted a much-needed postponement on the proposed Tooles Bend Road development, as recommended by its staff. To date, many unanswered questions remain on what the project would mean for road capacity, water and sewer access, fire protection and other issues.
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The Knoxville News Sentinel provided an in-depth, balanced look at the proposed Post Oak Development on Tooles Bend Road. It detailed the heavy opposition to the plan, risks posed to cars and buses, and potential dangers to fire protection. Check out the thoughtful coverage and the serious concerns raised by neighbors and commuters.
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We turned out in force and MPC commissioners listened! We’re grateful for their thoughtful approach. As these Knoxville News Sentinel photos show, the Main Assembly Room in the City-County Building is a sea of yellow T-shirts worn by Northshore Corridor Association supporters. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: We’re not anti-development. But we want smart development with community input.
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KnoxTNToday.com detailed the widespread community concern about the proposed development on the Bailey Farm off Tooles Bend Road in advance of the August meeting of the Metropolitan Planning Commission. The density of the proposed development, especially the effect it would have on road safety, has people worried. As the article stated, no one expects the Bailey Farm to stay undeveloped. We just want to see smart development, with community input, to ensure that it fits in with the existing neighborhood.
https://www.knoxtntoday.com/15461-2/
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Plans for a dense, 621-unit riverfront housing development off Toole’s Bend Road have spurred neighbors to create the Northshore Corridor Association, a grassroots organization representing 12 community groups. Its members are urging the Metropolitan Planning Commission to delay action on the concept until the community has a chance to fully review its impact.
The MPC is scheduled to review plans for Post Oak Bend — calling for stacked and connected condos to be built on the 421-acre Bailey Farm — at its Aug. 9 meeting.
“The community is largely unaware of the project,” said Bryan Spears, a spokesperson for the Northshore Corridor Association. “As people learn of it, mostly through word of mouth, they have many valid questions and serious concerns. The most immediate concern is the short timeframe before this development could potentially be approved.”
The last remaining large tract of undeveloped waterfront in West Knox County, the current 412-acre Bailey Farm features four miles of Fort Loudoun Lake frontage.
“We understand that the landowners have a right to develop their property,” Spears said. “But the proposal we’ve seen would radically increase traffic on an already dangerous road, strain existing infrastructure, create challenges for first responders and add to schools that are at or near capacity.”
The development would increase traffic on Tooles Bend and Tedford Roads far beyond current capabilities. In many places, these roads are less than 20 feet wide. According to documents filed with MPC, the developers are requesting 17 variances to the existing roadway. The development may also require a roundabout or new traffic light at the intersection of Tooles Bend Road and Northshore Drive.
The current number of homes along Tooles Bend is less than 300, and residents fear such a radical increase could lead to serious problems. Their concerns include:
The Northshore Corridor Association has the support of the following neighborhood organizations: Amberleigh, Cottington Court, Cove Point, Keller Bend, Kensington, Lyons Crossing, River Club, Victoria’s Inlet, Wexford, Whittington Creek, Wright’s Ferry Landing and the Knoxville Boat Club.
“We want to be perfectly clear that we are not anti-development,” said another association spokesperson, Diane Montgomery. “We are pro-development. We’re just asking everyone involved to slow down and address community concerns before proceeding any further. We want to see smart development with appropriate community input.”
Spears and Montgomery encourage community members to attend the Aug. 9 Metropolitan Planning Commission meeting from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., at the Main Assembly Room, City County Building, 400 West Main St., Knoxville.
They are also asking people to:
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When a local television station reported that one of the bigger housing developments in Knox County was in the planning stages and “sparked concern,” it proved to be an understatement. As word of the proposed development spread, so did opposition. Our change.org petition quickly garnered more than 1,300 signatures and the Facebook page we started exploded with interest.