Thursday, June 3
South Doyle Middle School Library
Meeting Summary

Members Present: Councilman Chris Woodhull and Councilman Joe Hultquist (Co-Chairs), Ben Birdwell, Councilman Joe Bailey, Ron Emory, Liz Farr, Margaret Gripshover, Jim Hagerman, Pat Harmon, Rich Hopkins, Don McLean, Alan Miller, Barry Neal, Martha Olsen, Bob Petrone, Eugene Robinson, Dean Shipley, Ed Smith, and Sylvia Woods.

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

At 6:15, Councilman Chris Woodhull welcomed everyone and thanked them for coming. Chris noted that we are getting into the most exciting part of the study now, and invited the chairperson or designated representative to share with the group highlights of their recent subcommittee meetings.

Don McLean, chair of the transportation subcommittee, explained that the committee had an election and put their individual positions on the road project on the table, and that it was very healthy. He reported that Mike Conger had given them a lot of data and they are getting a good idea of the traffic flow, etc. He thanked Mike for his efforts, noting that LOS is worst in the areas with the most signal lights, and there are more ‘weak points’ the closer you get to Henley Street bridge. He said it’s not as bad as it feels like it is when we’re stuck in traffic, but we need to talk about the inevitable growth, and look twenty years down the road. He indicated that the subcommittee did not like the terminus of the JWP at its currently proposed location on  Chapman Highway.

Questions and comments from the task force included –

1) Rich Hopkins asked if we can proceed any further before we get a consensus on what the role of JWP should be and what the role of Chapman Highway should be? (Chris Woodhull suggested they decide what it is they want to see in South Knox and then see how the respective roads need to function)

2) Jim Hagerman noted that need to be thinking about how to grade the alternatives.

Ron Emery, chair of the economic development subcommittee, reported that they are in the beginning of the Chapman Highway Corridor Study, framing the area they want to encompass. He noted they were creating a vision of what they wanted Chapman Highway to look like, and would see how the James White Parkway alternatives will affect this vision.  Sylvia Woods suggested they have a real estate agent be involved with their efforts, to get additional perspectives on what is attractive (and is not attractive) about the corridors, and what type ‘look’ is appealing and in demand.

Liz Farr spoke on behalf of the community impact and opportunities subcommittee, reporting that they had identified the names of neighborhoods that might be affected by the JWP extension. She noted they were discussing the urban forest, greenway connections, and transportation alternatives besides just vehicles. Liz reported that Jeff Welch had reviewed traffic conditions with the subcommittee, and that level of service can be subjective. Their group is also interested in the land use along the corridor.

Next, Dave Kitts, a facilitator with Leadership Knoxville, asked the task force members to close their eyes and imagine the entire South Knox area thirty years from now. What does Chapman Highway look like? What does the JWP look like? He asked them to join their subcommittee members at three large tables throughout the library and for approximately 30 minutes, discuss what they see in 2034, reporting back ten of the most important things in their vision. MPC staff and the facilitators will look closely for common themes within their visions, and also for areas of dissidence. Using this information, we will have a vision for the future to present at the next meeting, and also will have identified some of the ‘sticking points’ that need to be worked out. 

Transportation and Mobility subcommittee – Vision for 2034

• Same or lower congestion – redesigned bottleneck intersections
• Better transportation safety
• More diverse mix of businesses
• Planned business hub associated with Chapman – commercial and office, maybe residential
• Improved public transportation (and more use of public transportation)  
• Appropriate mix of bicycle and pedestrian facilities
• Maintain reasonable access to local businesses
• Services/infrastructure designed to accommodate growth in adjacent counties
• Build public recreation facilities, including the riverfront
• Develop a destination attraction in south Knoxville

Community Impact and Opportunities subcommittee - Vision for 2034

• Numbered traffic signals
• Sidewalks connecting to businesses
• Occupied storefronts, unique stores – not chains
• Homes and development conductive to topography (wise planning)
• Turn lanes R and L on Chapman for smoother flow, computer timed signals
• South Knoxville is noted for its natural parks
• Transportation choices available – walking, biking, better public transportation
• Waterfront destination
• South Knox is a rail hub to the Smokies
• South Knox has curb appeal, good zoning, community pride

Economic Development subcommittee - Vision for 2034

• Pedestrian and Bike friendly
• Branding –‘Downtown South’
• Visually pleasing signage and landscaping
• Attractions are identified and promoted
• Good public transit (UT Connections)
• Slower speeds
• Green (grassy) median with street trees
• Improved business mix
• No commercial development on James White Parkway
• Riverfront connections

The subcommittees reported back to the large task force, and several themes were apparent to everyone, including a pedestrian and bike friendly community is desired, with attractions, improved public transit with higher usage, and the river used as an asset rather than a barrier between south Knoxville and downtown.  In hearing the visions, Don McLean asked how this is going to get started, if Chapman is the main arterial through South Knoxville? Jeff Welch asked the group, to get what you want with Chapman, what needs to happen with the JWP?

Renee Davis reminded the group of upcoming subcommittee meetings and Joe Hultquist announced that on Thursday, July 1, at 5 PM we will take a bus tour of the area. More details will be available soon. The meeting adjourned at 7:35pm.

Meeting summary by Renee Davis, June 4, 2004