Thursday, July 29
South Doyle Middle School Library
Meeting Summary

Members Present - Councilman Chris Woodhull and Councilman Joe Hultquist (Co-Chairs), Jim Arnett, Tom Allen, Vickie Andrews, Councilman Joe Bailey, Liz Farr, Jim Hagerman, Pat Harmon, Rich Hopkins, Don McLean, Lynne Miller, John Nolt, Martha Olsen, Bob Petrone, Eugene Robinson, Dean Shipley, Ed Smith, and Sylvia Woods.

Mike Conger and Renee Davis from MPC/TPO were present, along with Glenn Malone from TDOT, and Mike Dunthorn from the City of Knoxville ’s Community Development Office. David Kitts, Jeannie Dulaney and Kathy Hamilton from Leadership Knoxville served as meeting facilitators. Participants enjoyed refreshments and informal discussion during a meet and greet social time beginning at 6 PM .

At 6:30, Councilman Joe Hultquist welcomed everyone and thanked them for coming, reminding everyone that now is the time for the task force to work together to find common ground and solutions that everyone can live with. Councilman Chris Woodhull recognized that the group is trying to move toward a common vision given a difficult task, short time frame and inconvenient time of the year. He explained that some say they DO NOT want to be argumentative, and some say they DO, but regardless, everyone has powerful insights that need to be put on the table.

Jeannie Dulaney asked the group about the impressions from the bus tour on July 1. One participant questioned how many members have read the report of the previous task force (show of hands indicated most present had) and noted that many seemed to not realize the value of sinkholes, and seem to believe that because land is rural, it is worthless. Another participant acknowledged that the terrain was eye opening. Some members of the task force commented that they are just beginning to have meaningful discussions, previous times when they were together information was being given to them, due to the number of questions they originally had. Timing of the public meetings and content of the presentation was questioned.

Jeannie reminded the group that in the beginning they had developed a process vision, and later a physical vision that dealt with the community and road system. In wanting to develop ‘one plan’ to present to TDOT, they need to decide if there will be an extension of JWP and if so, what will look like. She noted that although they may not know exactly, they’ve been preparing up to this point and need to move into building consensus. She reviewed some of the indicators of consensus - that everyone feels that their opinion has been adequately heard, even if the group doesn’t completely agree. If not everyone is willing to support the recommended action, the group will find some way to present a minority opinion. Opinions have been discussed in the subcommittees, and now those thoughts need to be put before the whole group. Jeannie asked the group: What are some concerns that you have? If you are undecided – express the issues on your minds.

COMMENTS/ISSUES DISCUSSED:

• “No build” is the cheapest and least disruptive option, but doesn’t answer some of the problems. It moves the least number of people, has least construction, could hurt and help business, allows air quality problems on Chapman to continue
• Are emission problems created by “build” and “no build” options about equal? (not much difference by 2030)
• Improvements need to be made to Chapman Highway regardless of JWP being extended
• The total cost package of extending JWP vs. not extending and making improvements to Chapman needs to be looked at
• Will all money go the JWP, if extended, and none to Chapman?
• Growth in Seymour is inevitable. Question is how to move the additional traffic through South Knox while protecting South Knox.
• Why haven’t other options been considered, i.e. building a road that connects to John Sevier Highway ?
• Does improving Chapman Highway (only) not address safety issues?
• What exactly is the reason now for extending James White Parkway ? The additional Seymour traffic? Traffic congestion? Safety? Route to the Smokies? This needs to be identified.
• If JWP extension is not built, there will be more traffic on Chapman Highway .
• Boulevard approach for JWP would encourage more development. The extension breaks up neighborhoods and induces more cars to come in.
• Should the evaluative tool be broken down by committee?
• We need to look to the future. If we build it, they will come. There will be economic development impacts.
• Should South Knox become a light rail hub?
• Would improved mass transit provide opportunities for finding jobs in Sevier County ?
• The model doesn’t show how the area would physically develop if JWP was extended. The results might be different than we think.
• The supply and cost of gas in 20 years affects the model outlook. Will hybrids help?
• Rail options need to be studied.
• Safety is number one issue.
• Light rail is safe
• Travel Demand Model only covers motor vehicles
• Can’t answer all the questions (address all the issues) by improving Chapman Highway – that won’t do it
• Development of West Knox roads disproves that theory (see previous point). How do we protect land from asphalt?
• Maybe we should make JWP a toll road.
• Can the route of JWP extension be a winding one, like Blue Ridge Parkway ?
• Can Sevierville Pike be four lanes?
• Everybody should make a suggestion on what needs to be done.

It was agreed that everyone would formulate an ideal solution and email this to Renee Davis before the next meeting. Renee reported that the spreadsheet results of how the alternatives are being ranked according to criteria will not be complete by the end of the meeting, a few more people need to turn in forms.

Councilman Hultquist suggested that for the remainder of the time, the group deal with options that there seems to be broad agreement on. Most people have already compared the modeled alternatives and made decisions about which do and do not meet the evaluation criteria. It was decided to eliminate the ‘boulevard’ alternative for all terminus points, and it was also decided to eliminate the terminus proposed at Chapman Highway , in light of the regional retail hub that has developed outside of the proposed location. At least one person indicated that when they ranked the alternatives based on the criteria, the terminus came out fairly high as a parkway. It was decided that when the evaluation results are more complete, the group can revisit those alternatives that have been eliminated, if necessary. It was noted that some people had difficulty filling out parts of the criteria, and felt like they were being rushed. Based on the outline established at the beginning of the study, the group is approximately half-way through the process and a recommendation is expected by late November.

Due to several people reporting that (because of vacations and the election) they are not able to attend the regularly scheduled August task force meeting on Thursday, August 5, the meeting will take place on August 26th. This meeting will be followed immediately by the regular September task force meeting on the next Thursday (September 2). Subcommittee representatives and Co-Chairs will be discussing with staff how to proceed with public meetings.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:15 p.m.

Meeting summary by Renee Davis