Board OKs storage building site plan
Oakridger
A city board has approved the site plan for a planned three-story storage building on South Rutgers Avenue near Walmart after some debate about whether it should keep its lights on at night.
The building for Extra Space Storage is planned to include three stories of personal storage lockers with a design that resembles some of the stores in the nearby Main Street Oak Ridge shopping center. Both Main Street Oak Ridge and this storage unit are projects of Greenville, S.C.-based developer RealtyLink.
The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission, a board appointed by City Council, unanimously voted last Thursday, April 22, to approve the site plan, which shows the layout for the storage building and its surroundings. The site plan now needs only the approval from Planning Commission, not City Council.
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.
Reverse parade: An event to remember
Gene Dunaway/Letters
To the Editor:
It is common knowledge that the city of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, has a unique perspective on community involvement. That can be said about this year s annual Christmas parade, but with a twist: the units were stationary, the spectators moved.
Sponsored by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce and managed by Greta Ownby, Executive Vice President, this year s parade was to feature 39 entries, a third of the normal crop. With a constant drizzle and less than ideal marching weather, some 20 organizations, city departments, and local businesses actually participated. No bands, no choirs, no drill teams, no llamas but we had outstanding displays, such as the Chamber, Breakfast Rotary, Youth Advisory Board, Karen Walker (Realtor), Marlow Fire Department (perennial participant), Humane Society, and Solway Auto Care (new entry). And, yes: Santa Claus capped the display along with elves passing out candy.