Oak Ridge Today

Zoning change approved by city officials helps Main Street Oak Ridge project

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Main Street Oak Ridge Belk on March 2, 2015

The Belk store at the Oak Ridge City Center, which could be redeveloped as Main Street Oak Ridge, is pictured above on March 2.

 

Leasing, financing, and pre-construction work on the Main Street Oak Ridge project is progressing as planned, a developer said in late February, and a change to the city’s zoning ordinance approved on Monday will help the redevelopment.

James Downs, Crosland Southeast partner, said his company hopes to start construction late in the second quarter of 2015. It’s part of a plan to have a grand opening in the fall of 2016.

Survey crews from Cannon and Cannon have completed a boundary survey of the 60-acre site, the former Oak Ridge Mall, and field work is under way, said Ray Evans, the city’s retail consultant. [Read more…]

Council postpones vote on Turnpike stoplight at ORHS

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Oak Ridge Turnpike and High School Stoplight

Note: This story was updated at 10:20 a.m. March 10.

The Oak Ridge City Council has postponed a vote on a contract to install a stoplight at the Oak Ridge Turnpike in front of Oak Ridge High School. The light could eliminate the need for a crossing guard.

City officials had said the light could be installed by August 2015, but the postponement of the contract vote to the April meeting will likely delay the completion date, possibly until after school starts later this year.

The installation could cost roughly $177,000. It would be paid for using unspent money from the Special Programs Fund, the fund set up for traffic, pedestrian, and bicycle safety projects using money from the traffic cameras that were removed last year. [Read more…]

Council considers ORPD review proposal, ORHS stoplight, amendment for Main Street project

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Oak Ridge City Council on Feb. 9, 2015

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday, Feb. 9, agreed to a third-party review of turnover and morale in the Oak Ridge Police Department but rejected requests for two other probes. On Monday, March 9, the Council will consider a proposal from the Municipal Technical Advisory Service to conduct the review, which will also include administrative policies. (File photo)

 

Note: This story was updated at 1:10 p.m.

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday night will consider a proposal to use the Municipal Technical Advisory Service to review turnover, morale, and administrative policies in the Oak Ridge Police Department.

The Council will also consider a contract to install a stoplight on Oak Ridge Turnpike in front of the Oak Ridge High School.

Also on tonight’s agenda is a resolution to appoint members of a joint city-school committee that will study options for repairing, replacing, or moving the Oak Ridge Preschool.

And Council members will consider a zoning ordinance amendment that could help the Main Street Oak Ridge project, which will redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Cedar Barren Cleanup near JMS is Saturday

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Larry at Oak Ridge Barrens Area

The annual spring exotic invasive plant removal at the Oak Ridge Barrens Natural Area will be Saturday, March 7.

Located next to Jefferson Middle School in Oak Ridge, this Barren is a joint project of the City of Oak Ridge, State Natural Areas Division, and Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning. One of only a few cedar barrens in East Tennessee, the area is subject to invasion by Chinese lespedeza, Japanese privet, autumn olive, mimosa, Nepal grass, multiflora rose, and woody plants that threaten the system’s prairie grasses. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge to celebrate Arbor Day Friday

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The Environmental Quality Advisory Board and the City of Oak Ridge are sponsoring the 30th Annual Arbor Day Observance at 10 a.m. Friday, March 6, at Woodland Elementary School.

This ceremony also marks the 27th year that the City of Oak Ridge has been recognized as a Tree City USA. It will also mark the first year that the city will receive the Tree Line USA designation.

Tree City USA, a National Arbor Day Foundation program, recognizes U.S. towns and cities that develop comprehensive urban forestry programs. Tree Line USA is also a National Arbor Day Foundation program that recognizes utility providers who adopt best practices in utility line arboriculture. At the ceremony, district foresters with the Department of Forestry will present the Tree City award and flag to city representative Mayor Warren Gooch and Steve Kenworthy, chairman of the Environmental Quality Advisory Board. [Read more…]

Closings: Oak Ridge, Roane Schools; some city, county, state offices

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Oak Ridge Schools and Roane County Schools are both closed today. So are Anderson County government offices, and the Oak Ridge Public Library and Senior Center. All other municipal offices will operate on a regular schedule.

Anderson County courts are also canceled, and daytime classes at Roane State Community College campuses, including in Oak Ridge, have been canceled. A decision on nighttime classes (those that begin after 4:30 p.m.) will be made later.

State offices are also closed because of the current weather situation in West and Middle Tennessee and forecasted winter weather moving east. [Read more…]

City, schools offer North Boundary Trail hike on March 14

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North Boundary Hike

Oak Ridge municipal and school committees will lead a six-mile hike on the North Boundary Trail on Saturday, March 14.

The hike, which could last about three hours, will leave the North Boundary “yellow gate” (just west of Wisconsin Avenue) at 9 a.m. and follow the Quarry trail, making a right onto Hunley, a right onto North Boundary, and down the Gallaher connector.

This hike is considered moderate in difficulty due to varied elevations and length. [Read more…]

Council to discuss ORPD review, DOE landfill, Preschool

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Oak Ridge City Council on Feb. 9, 2015

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday, Feb. 9, agreed to a third-party review of turnover, morale, and administrative policies in the Oak Ridge Police Department. (File photo)

 

The Oak Ridge City Council on Tuesday could discuss a review of the Oak Ridge Police Department, hear a briefing on a proposed U.S. Department of Energy landfill west of the Y-12 National Security Complex, and discuss a new joint city-school committee that could lay the groundwork for a new preschool by the 2016-2017 school year.

The City Council will meet in a non-voting work session at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Multipurpose Room at the Central Services Complex on Woodbury Lane. The work session has been rescheduled from last month because of weather. [Read more…]

Weather: County Commission meeting, Habitat dedication canceled

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The Anderson County Commission meeting that had been rescheduled for tonight has been canceled due to the weather. It will not be rescheduled again, but will instead be combined with the regular meeting in March.

The Myrick Build Dedication that had been scheduled for Saturday has been postponed. Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County said the dedication has been postponed to March 28, with the same schedule of events.

Meanwhile, the City of Oak Ridge announced that Waste Connections will begin Wednesday’s routes today (Thursday, February 26) on main roads that are clear, and then go to secondary streets to pick up garbage and recyclables as the day progresses. [Read more…]

Anderson government closed; Y-12, Oak Ridge, UCOR, DOE, ORAU start late

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Snow in Oak Ridge on Feb. 26, 2015

Several inches of snow fell in Oak Ridge and across East Tennessee overnight. (Photo by Bruce Phillips)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 9:23 a.m.

Several inches of snow fell in East Tennessee overnight, and there are more closings and delays because of weather and road conditions.

The Y-12 National Security Complex is still clearing some areas at the site. Non-essential employees should delay arrival at the site until 11 a.m. UPF Offsite Offices also should delay until 11 a.m. Personnel are urged to use caution when driving and walking throughout the site and to use designated snow routes.

Anderson County government offices will be closed Thursday. The Roane County Courthouse is also closed. [Read more…]

Updated: Waste Connections won’t pick up garbage Tuesday

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Note: This story was updated at 12:15 p.m.

Waste Connections trucks are “slipping and sliding” on local roads, and they won’t be picking up garbage today (Tuesday, February 24).

So, the company will begin Wednesday by picking up Tuesday’s route for refuse and recyclables, and then move on to Wednesday as time allows until workers are caught up, officials said. [Read more…]

Snow: Basketball tournament canceled; city centers, some businesses closed

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Taylor Road Snow Lady Feb. 21, 2015

Ashlynn and Myrah Forgety build a snow woman on Taylor Road in Oak Ridge on Saturday. (Photo courtesy Leah M. Bevins)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:58 p.m.

The snow overnight, which covered some roads that were already treacherous, has forced more closings, cancellations, and delays.

The Oak Ridge Civic Center, Scarboro Center, Senior Center, and Public Library will all be closed today, Saturday, February 21.

The District 3-AAA basketball tournament, which had been rescheduled for today at Central High School in Knoxville, has been canceled. The regional tournament is scheduled to start Monday, and the seedings that stand now will be used in the regional tournament.

Some businesses in Oak Ridge announced they are closed or opening later, possibly after the temperature warms and the precipitation changes to rain. For example, ORNL Federal Credit Union announced that all of its locations will be closed today. Hot Bagel Co. announced it will be closed today but will reopen at 6 a.m. Monday. The Other One in Grove Center said they will not open this morning, but could reopen this afternoon. You might consider calling ahead if you have a question about a specific business. [Read more…]