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.
Special Recreation District returns for vote
Oakridger
The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission will consider a Special Recreation District at its 5:30 p.m. business meeting on Thursday, Feb. 18.
The meeting will be virtual-only. Access to view the live stream can be found at: oakridgetn.gov/online/streaming. Citizens are now able to register to speak on a particular agenda item during the meeting.
The district proposal was in response to a proposal by developer H.E. “Rusty” Bittle to create a motorsports park in west Oak Ridge.
However, adding the Special Recreation District to the zoning code as proposed will not immediately allow for the motorsports park. It would instead allow for land owners to ask city officials to rezone parcels of land for Special Recreation Districts on any 25 acre parcel of land in the city. Then, Planning Commission and City Council could vote on it.