Stamina, that's one element to preserving a neighborhood. Fifteen Metropolitan Planning Commissioners meet once a month to vote on the fate of tracts of land around the City of Knoxville and Knox County. These individuals are appointed by the City (7) and County (8). They perform their task free of charge.

Rezoning applications (primarily developers) and rezoning opponents (primarily private citizens) sit around waiting for their agenda item to be called for review. The MPC staff (paid employees) have already spent time reviewing the rezoning requests and submitted their recommendations, approve or deny. In this session, it was very rare for the MPC to vary from the staff recommendations. This was my first MPC meeting, so I have no idea if this is the norm. Our group was one of the lucky ones.

Residents of Lakemoor, Timberlake, and Maloney Road West of Alcoa Highway stood up and were heard. Approximately 10-15 residents attended the meeting. Four residents spoke in opposition. Most of the people attending in opposition to this rezoning request arrived around 1:30PM. The rezoning agenda item #81 was heard at approximately 6:45PM, over 5 hours of waiting. Based on previous Agenda Minutes (available on-line), this was the longest MPC meeting since 2/2006 (maybe longer, no earlier agenda minutes were on-line).

More after the jump...

The applicants (Dennis J. and Jana R. Weaver) for the rezoning of additional land for the Gazebo Point at Waterford Cove condo development did not attend the MPC meeting. I wonder if they assumed since it was already approved by the MPC staff that it would easily get approved. Or, did they get wind of the growing opposition? Maybe they saw the flyers Bubba and I delivered to 100 of the residents in the area.

This neighborhood has an e-mail list for residents to alert each other to topics of interest, e.g. rezoning, development, crime, lost pets, etc. They are a great group of people who care about each other and their surroundings. Many families have lived in this neighborhood for 40 and 50 years. It is hard to buy a house there because no one leaves, unless of course, you know, but even then many times heirs take up residence and they don't leave.

A couple of notes regarding preparation for the process. Always take note when you see those little rezoning signs in your area. Don't wait to get started, the MPC could meet regarding the item within 2 weeks. Take the time to alert anyone and everyone you think can or will help your position. Document your opposition to the rezoning. Contact the MPC staff member in charge of the review to thoroughly discuss the applicant's request. Have as many people as possible contact (phone, email, fax) the MPC staff member to voice their opposition and get on record. Contact the MPC members. Get a copy of the MPC Rezoning Report. This report has the details of the zoning request as well as the MPC staff recommendation (Need and Justification for the Proposal, Effects of the Proposal, and Conformity of the Proposal to Adopted Plans). Request any site-plan information, whether formally proposed or pending. Attend the MPC meeting.

A final note regarding selling your property. I know we all want to make money when we sell our property. But, please, if at all possible, think about those surrounding your property. Try to work it out so that it will not be completely detrimental to others. Work it all into the contract, nothing on a handshake. Verbal promises are easily forgotten.

Stamina, you must have it to be heard. Stamina, you must have it to gather the people and document your opposition. Stamina, you must have to keep up with all the required follow-ups. This rezoning request was denied. The applicant can appeal it to Knoxville City Council. The applicant also has a proposed site-plan change to the existing development on the MPC agenda in February. The process is not over. The neighborhood residents have to remain vigilant. I now have more understanding of what gemini and mamaw are going through with the much bigger SoKno Waterfront Project.