OR Council to discuss Special Recreation District on Tuesday
Oakridger
Oak Ridge City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday with just one item on the agenda: discussion of a possible “Special Recreation District” zoning category for zoos, amusement parks, sports complexes and motorsports parks.
The proposal comes in response to developer H.E. Bittle of Hardin Valley Land Partners’ request to build a motorsports park in west Oak Ridge adjacent to, but not in, the Black Oak Ridge Conservation Easement (BORCE). If the zoning category is approved, the city could then approve the development for any 25-acre parcel of land in the the city.
Work session possible on Special Rec District zone
Oakridger
Absent from the agenda for Monday, March 8 s Oak Ridge City Council meeting is any mention of a new zoning category for large “Special Recreation District” areas.
However, even though it’s not on the agenda for March 8, citizens may still comment on it or any other item not on the agenda during the “Appearance of Citizens” time.
The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission recently recommended a proposal for that type of district which City Council could later approve for any 25 acre parcel of the city. The proposal comes in response to a proposal by developer H.E. Bittle to build a motorsports complex on several parcels of the Horizon Center near Black Oak Ridge Conservation Easement.
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Oakridger
TVA has put a concrete barrier around a transmission tower and moved it further away from the road to prevent it from toppling over again and causing another power outage like the massive one last month.
Most Oak Ridge residents lost power after a pickup truck with a trailer hit the TVA electrical transmission tower at the intersection of South Illinois Avenue/state Highway 62 and Union Valley Road on Jan. 22.
“TVA will not lose focus on actions currently underway to address your concerns associated with this outage,” TVA President Jeff Lyash said in a letter to Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch and City Manager Mark Watson.
Oakridger
An Oak Ridge city board is sending the proposed new zoning district for amusement parks, zoos and motorsports parks to City Council, but with one change protecting the Black Oak Ridge Conservation Easement with a wider setback.
Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission approved the Special Recreation District zoning category on Thursday for the second time, conducting a re-vote for technical reasons. Planning Commissioner Phil Yager made the motion, although he later voted against it. Planning Commissioner Greta Ownby seconded.
There’s still more steps to go before the district is added to the city’s zoning code, if it is added. For that to happen, City Council will next need to approve the change to the zoning codes.