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N. Watt NCC rezoning combines townhomes with commercial/office

Tammy Cheek farragutpress.com

Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen unanimously approved, on second reading, the rezoning of 9.22 acres on 421 N. Watt Road, from General Commercial (C-1) to Neighborhood/Convenience Commercial during its meeting Thursday, April 28.

“The (rezoning) request was being made to support the development of a proposed mixed-use development containing a combination of commercial and office uses with residential town homes,” Town Community Development director Mark Shipley said.

While not required, Shipley said applicant Robert Campbell of Robert Campbell & Associates provided a revised concept plan before the permit request’s first reading to illustrate how he was going to develop the property.

“The original plan that was presented during review with the (Farragut Municipal) Planning Commission is being modified in response to concerns over access to Harrison Road in Loudon County, given the very substandard condition of this road,” he said.

Shipley pointed out the property fronts North Watt Road, within the Town, and extends westward into Loudon County, where it has frontage along Harrison Lane.

“The Loudon County portion of this property is very small and is not envisioned to have any development other than some grading,” he said. “The existing land use in the immediate area is predominately rural/low density residential.

“However, the Watt Road interstate interchange is located just over the ridge to the north while the Town’s Mayor Bob Leonard Park, along with a few small-scale commercial uses, are located along North Watt Road, a short distance to the south,” Shipley added.

“The Town’s Land Use Plan for the Watt Road Corridor was re-evaluated in 2018, and the Future Land Use Map was amended to include several areas for potential Mixed-Use Neighborhood development with associated residential densities not to exceed eight dwelling units per acre.

“The applicant’s request … would be consistent with the current Future Land Use Map and the Mixed-Use Neighborhood land designation.”