Could Affordable Housing Fund benefit from proposed sales tax increase?
By Mike Steely
Senior Writer
steelym@knoxfocus.com
If the sales tax increase referendum passes in the November election, the city is considering designating about $10 million of the additional revenue, or 22%, to the Knoxville Affordable Housing Fund. The Housing and Neighborhood Development Department is asking the city council to approve the possible additional funds when it meets on Tuesday.
The council will also consider accepting a proposal from HealthEquity to oversee the city’s Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Reimbursement Account Administration for an annual $76,650. The council may approve applying for $250,000 from the state for a Transportation Planning Grant with a $25,000 local match; the funding would go toward a signal system evaluation and optimization plan for Kingston Pike.
Cannon & Cannon Inc. may be contracted for $55,000 to augment the city’s Transportation Engineering Division. Gay Street may see CDM Smith Inc. contracted for a traffic impact study at its bridge for $96,100.
CDM Smith Inc. may also be hired for professional engineering design services for the Fort Sanders Neighborhood-Tyson Park Connection Greenway Project. The city may enter into an agreement with the state for property located under the James White Bridge and Hall of Fame Drive in an annual agreement of $149,000.
Various zoning changes are also before the council, including 305 West Vine Avenue moving to a Downtown Boulevard Subdistrict designation. Property at 6109 Creekhead Drive may move from AG agricultural to RN-1 residential. A new general commercial rezoning is requested for 140 West Baxter, which is currently RN-2 residential.
A residential zone change, from RN-1 to RN-2 residential, is requested for 3415 Harvey Drive. Six lots on Ball Camp Pike may change from RN-1 to RN-2 residential. Property at 2019 Middlebrook Pike may move from industrial mixed-use to highway commercial.
Another residential property, 4879 Chambliss Avenue, may move from RN-4 to neighborhood commercial and 962 North Gallaher View Road could revert to its previous commercial zoning.
