North waterfront redevelopment, data center restrictions pass
By Mike Steely
Senior Writer
steelym@knoxfocus.com
The north bank of the Tennessee River in downtown Knoxville needs redevelopment, and the Knoxville City Council approved a long-term plan to do so Tuesday evening.
The area would stretch “from World’s Fair Park at Cumberland Avenue through Maplehurst to Neyland Drive — and from the Henley Street Bridge to Third Creek,” and the idea is to revitalize and reuse vacant properties
The project, requested by Urban Design and Development, drew several favorable comments from council members. Denzel Grant said that during the future renovation, local history should be preserved. Nathan Honeycutt said the vote for approval is “just the beginning” and the effort will include public hearings and a draft of the framework.
“This is not an overnight thing,” Councilwoman Lynne Fugate said, adding, “It’s the seed to our future.”
The project now goes to the Knoxville Community Development Corporation for implementation.
The council also voted for a one-year moratorium on data centers that use more than 10 megawatts of power. Last month, Mayor Indya Kincannon asked Knoxville-Knox County Planning to look at zoning regulations and the high-energy-using data centers, as did the Knox County Commission.
Planning Director Amy Brooks told the council that the planners will seek public input in the process. Councilwoman Fugate said the city needs education on the centers. Grant said the mayor’s push for the one-year ban shows that Kincannon is listening to citizens.
Councilman Matthew DeBardelaben noted that the city and county have had existing data centers for a long time and noted the “low hum” noise and water used by those centers.
Mayor Kincannon noted there is one large data center outside the city and said it is now time for a study. Currently, there are no specific regulations on data centers inside the city.
In other business, the council voted to increase solar power for pedestrian improvements along Sutherland Avenue, a state-funded $300,000 project with a 10% city match.
The infrastructure and vertical construction project at Western Heights received an additional $4.5 million, bringing the total transformation funding to $26.5 million for the Knoxville Community Development Corporation-led project to supply additional affordable housing.
Councilman Charles Thomas called the ongoing project “a success story,” and Councilman Nathan Honeycutt applauded the local, federal and private funding.
An appeal filed by Scott Albrecht regarding a setback denied by the Board of Zoning Appeals was approved by council. Jonathan Miller spoke for Albrecht, noting the irregular shape of the property at 1503 Southgate Road, saying the request to relocate a small garage there had no opposition from the neighbors.
Councilman Thomas said the location of the garage was an “odd situation” but agreed with the appeal to grant a 10-foot setback.
The council also approved providing $270,000 in community development block grants to four community organizations for housing management, design services, legal aid and transitional housing.
