The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission on Thursday will consider amending the Land Use Plan to change the designation on parcels 39 and 40 above from residential to business. The parcels are next to Aldi grocery (Parcel 43 at right) and between South Purdue Avenue (white road center right) and South Illinois Avenue (yellow road at bottom). The Planning Commission could consider rezoning the property in July. The new Weigels gas station and convenience store is off the map to the left on Parcel 41. Potomac Circle is at top left. (Image courtesy State of Tennessee)
The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission on Thursday will consider amending the city’s Land Use Plan to change the designation of more than two acres on busy South Illinois Avenue from residential to business, possibly to allow a small multi-tenant building to be constructed.
The two parcels being considered are sandwiched between two other recent developments—Weigels gas station and convenience store on one side and Aldi grocery on the other—and also near the new Aubrey’s restaurant, Panera Bread, Ole Ben Franklin Motors, and Bojangles’ restaurant.
A Nashville development group has a contract on the property, Oak Ridge Community Development Director Kathryn Baldwin said Monday.
The Planning Commission could consider rezoning the parcels in July. But any use of the property, which are between South Purdue Avenue and South Illinois Avenue in Woodland, requires a Land Use Plan amendment, she said.
One of the parcels, a 1.49-acre site, is owned by the Clifford Ernest R. Trust and (wife) Dolores M. Trust of Knoxville, according to state records. The second, at 0.8 acres, is owned by Central Park Development of Knoxville.
Thursday’s Planning Commission meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Courtroom, and it includes a public hearing.
The Oak Ridge Planning Commission could consider changes that would allow a small multi-tenant building to be constructed on this parcel and an adjacent one between South Purdue and South Illinois avenues.
Joshua Hamilton says
man, they are going to totally build up around that graveyard eh?
johnhuotari says
The cemetery is city-owned, and if I recall correctly, there is a deed restriction preventing it from being disturbed. It does appear that there could be commercial development around it. It does look like at least some of the trees/bushes/shrubs that used to be around the cemetery have been removed.
I think there is also a cemetery located at a busy intersection in Karns, so I don’t think this situation is too unusual.
Ray Evans says
The Cool Springs Marriott in Franklin has a very old, well maintained cemetery on its grounds.
This project on Illinois doesn’t particularly impact the cemetery.
The property to the rear of the cemetery (parcel 45) is not part of the project.
johnhuotari says
Thanks for the additional info on the other parcel, Ray.