• Letters and Petitions—mail, deliver, or fax written comments to MPC. Be sure to identify which item you are writing about.
• Photos, Maps, Reports—mail or deliver information to MPC.
• Phone Calls—all 15 planning commissioners accept phone calls from the public, either at work or home. Call MPC to find out which they prefer and how to reach them.
• Web site, E-mail—There is a form for comments and questions on MPC’s Web site which is checked daily. At your request, MPC staff will print out your e-mail comments for review by the commissioners.

Comments submitted at least one week ahead of the MPC meeting (held on the second Thursday of the month in the City County Building’s Large Assembly Room) will be included in the information packets sent ahead of time to the planning commissioners. Comments submitted by Monday afternoon before the meeting will be handed out at the commissioners’ agenda review session on Tuesday morning. One-of-a-kind items such as single copies of photos will be passed around at this time. Any additional materials received will be distributed at the MPC meeting.

At the MPC Meeting
Arrive promptly at 1:30 p.m.—this is when postponements and withdrawals of items are announced. Consent items (marked on the agenda with an asterisk) also are heard at the beginning of the meeting. Consent items are scheduled to be approved as a group. 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.

You do not have to sign up to speak at an MPC meeting. The MPC chair will call for public comments after reading the staff recommendation on each item. 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. 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. Speakers should limit their remarks to the facts of the case and avoid repeating comments already made.

Throughout the Year
MPC staff members hold a variety of meetings throughout the year to gather public input on planning and transportation issues. These meetings usually are held at neighborhood schools, libraries, and churches. Look for notices in the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

MPC Phone Numbers and Addresses
Office: (865) 215-2500

Fax: (865) 215-2068

E-Mail: contact@knoxmpc.org

Address:
Suite 403 City County Building,
400 Main Street,
Knoxville, TN 37902

Monthly recording of agenda items granted an automatic postponement at request of the applicant: 215-3830

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