TIPS FOR ATTENDING AN MPC MEETING

The Knoxville Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission meets at 1:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. (View meeting schedule) Business is conducted in the order of the agenda; extra copies are available in the lobby area outside the Large Assembly Room. The agenda usually is stapled to a colored sheet titled “Planning Focus” which highlights an important development issue or some aspect of MPC.

About the Agenda
Typical agenda items include requests for rezonings, use on reviews, subdivisions, and plan amendments. MPC staff have researched and studied these proposals and have written recommendations based on the General Plan, other adopted plans and studies, and requirements of the city and county zoning ordinances. After considering the staff recommendations and the information given by applicants and citizens at the meeting, the Planning Commission will vote to approve, deny, postpone, or table these items. They also can vote to let an item be withdrawn from consideration.

Other items that may be considered from time to time are street and alley closures, special planning studies and reports, and code amendments.

Postponements and withdrawals requested prior to this meeting are posted outside the Main Assembly Room. This list is amended when additional postponements and withdrawals are considered at the beginning of each meeting.

“Consent” items are marked on the agenda with an asterisk and are heard together at the beginning of the meeting. Cases are placed on the consent agenda when they are: 1) consistent with adopted plans, 2) recommended by staff approval as submitted by the applicant, and 3) there is no known opposition prior to the meeting. If you object to one of these, say so immediately after the consent agenda is read and the item will then be removed from the consent list and heard separately at its regular place in the appropriate agenda section.

Finding Your Item
If you need assistance in finding your item on the agenda, feel free to ask for help from the MPC staff members attending the meeting. They usually sit at either end of the horseshoe-shaped table nearest the audience.

Speaking at the Meeting
The MPC chair will call for public comments after reading the staff recommendation on an item. You do not have to sign up to speak at the meeting. Persons either in favor or in opposition of a proposal have a total of five minutes per side to make their case. Groups should select a spokesperson, and that person should be sure to recognize the citizens represented there. It’s a good idea for the members of a group to stand up at this time. Speakers should limit their remarks to the facts of the case and avoid repeating comments already made.

Creating a Record
Remarks delivered during the public hearing become a part of the record for each agenda item. It’s also important for a spokesperson to mention any documents or letters previously mailed to the commissioners so this material is made part of the record. Additional material may be submitted at the meeting.

Final Decisions
MPC is an advisory body and forwards its recommendations to the City Council or County Commission, which make final decisions for MPC items on their agendas. The City Council meets at 7 p.m. every other Tuesday, while the County Commission considers MPC items at 6 p.m. on the fourth Monday of every month.

 

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