GOVERNMENT/POLITICS A4 | OUR COLUMNISTS A6-7 | YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS A13 | HEALTH & LIFESTYLES SECTION B
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VOL. 5, NO. 48
NOVEMBER 28, 2011
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Fun at Fantasy of Trees New leader Elder Thomas Clapp Jr. is the Knoxville stake president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Kennedy Tull intently paints a wooden reindeer in the kids’ area of Fantasy of Trees. But wait! The whole show is for kids.
See page A-7
Admirals band Suzanne Foree Neal recaps the band’s marching season. Page A-13
Farragut Middle School students created this “gotta have it right now!” gingerbread house. Wow. Take me home! Photos by Ruth White Nathaniel Calloway (at left) poses for mom’s camera every time the carousel comes ‘round. Hard to say who is having the most fun.
Peyton watch How much do the Colts miss Peyton Manning? Marvin West tells us on page A-6
FEATURED COLUMNIST MALCOLM SHELL
Concord’s First convenience stores. See page A-6
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Changes ahead for Northshore at Choto inquiry from Randy Wolfe, president of the homeowners association at Choto Estates. Wolfe said recent imBy Sandra Clark provements including a Knox County Engineerturn lane for the Markets ing will ask consulting engiat Choto have created conneers Cannon & Cannon to fusion. “Drivers unfamiliar evaluate the intersection at with the area move into this Northshore Drive and Choto turn lane only to realize at Road and design a plan for the last moment that it ends improvements. Cannon before the intersection and & Cannon designed the they have to merge quickly roundabout at Northshore John Huber back into the right lane. and Concord Road and the “Because the road has roundabouts slated for Bob Commissioner Richard been resurfaced, widened Gray Road at Mabry Hood Briggs had requested inforand flattened, and the flashand Bob Kirby. mation in response to an ing caution light removed,
it’s no surprise that traffic speed has increased. Our residents expressed concern over the increased traffic speed and now sometimes difficult and dangerous intersection.” In an e-mail exchange, Deputy Director of Engineering Jim Snowden said a speed study conducted after the roadwork was completed showed an operating speed of 49 miles per hour, equivalent to speeds before the road work. Meanwhile, development plans for the Markets at
Choto have been reworked to eliminate 2-story buildings. Developer John Huber said each building will remain at 5,000 square feet, but now eight rather than six pads will be built and three will have basements. He has reduced the overall size from 77,000 to 75,000 square feet. Huber expects Weigel’s to start construction in January following completion of its store in Seymour. He’s received letters of intent
The best laid plans?
“It’s raining again,” said Norman, as discussion wound down. The vote is about water issues and Briggs’ amendment “is a Trojan horse, he added. “City Council walked away (from the joint facilitated meetings) and we were in agreement. “Water knows no boundary between city and county. … We need to stay parallel with the city.” “The Briggs amendment,” Norman concluded, “is muddying the water metaphorically and practically.” But Briggs said his amendment “un-muddies” the water. “People may say I’m taking one side or another, but I’m not,” he said, without a trace of irony. What are those who expected more left with? First, a plan for the county that is unlikely to pass – or even be presented – at City
Council. If council members sign off on the plan approved at the joint meetings, city and county policies on slope protection diverge. That outcome brings to mind the city/county divide on stormwater ordinances in 2007 which resulted in the city threatening to sue the county. Because of Briggs’ amendment, developers in the county may feel less constrained in continuing the practices that resulted in the Dawson Hollow disaster a few months ago or the hillside stripping at Watt Road which Norman aptly called “an abomination.” “How do you have a ‘nonbinding’ map?” Norman asked. With Briggs’ “advisory” amendment tacked on, that self-contradicting, limbo-dwelling creation is precisely what we have.
Developer to extend sidewalks
Commission neuters Hillside/ Ridge Top Plan By Larry Van Guilder
10512 Lexington Dr., Ste. 500 37932 (865) 218-WEST (9378) news@ShopperNewsNow.com ads@ShopperNewsNow.com EDITOR Larry Van Guilder lvgknox@mindspring.com ADVERTISING SALES Sydney McLean mcleans@ShopperNewsNow.com Debbie Moss mossd@ShopperNewsNow.com Shopper-News is a member of KNS Media Group, published weekly at 10512 Lexington Drive, Suite 500, Knoxville, TN, and distributed to 33,237 homes in Farragut, Karns and Hardin Valley.
After more than 3 1/2 years, County Commission’s debate on the Hillside and Ridge Top Protection Plan ended last week as that body accepted an amendment which declared the plan “advisory.”
Richard Briggs Tony Norman
Briggs’ amendment was supported by the Knoxville Chamber and mollified developers. It allowed commissioners who had never supported the plan Commissioners voted 7-3 to declare victory. R. Larry for the amended plan, with Smith said later Monday at Dave Wright abstaining. the Halls Republican Club, Only Tony Norman, Amy “both sides won.” Broyles and Sam McKenzie Despite Briggs’ declarastood against the amend- tion that the amendment ment that gutted the plan. was “not intended to subCommissioner Richard vert anything,” it’s a frank
Analysis
Keep Your Me Memories emor em SAFE!
betrayal to homeowners and businesses that endorsed the plan that had emerged from the facilitated joint meetings of commission and City Council. Plan opponents have habitually engaged in bluster and threat, and last week was no exception. Speaking for the Chamber, attorney Tom McAdams said, “There are lawsuits waiting to be had if you make this binding.” “All you want to do is kick us in the teeth when we’re down,” developer Scott Davis said, alluding to the depressed construction industry. County Law Director Joe Jarret said a property owner’s right to appeal an MPC decision was not affected by the plan. “Regardless of what language you put in the plan, there’s still redress for the landowner,” Jarret said.
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