8-A-22-OA Dustin (37917), June 4, 2023 at 10:16 PM
This is an insanely stupid and short-sighted idea and it angers me that the *Planning* Department isn't able to see that this doesn't help our city plan a better future. No one wants to walk if buildings are pulled far back from the sidewalk and there is parking in the front. This change continues to lock us into car dependence at a time when we should be actively doing everything we can to lower our emissions. The best way we can do that from a planning perspective is to make this town more lovely and safe to walk, bike, and take transit, This strips any future potential for that away. Especially as a Knoxville Transit Authority Commissioner, this ticks me off. We are trying to make our bus system more frequent and enjoyable for all users but by pulling back the street edge as the standard (instead of just making these developers apply for a VARIANCE which is what they should have to do), you all are allowing the edges of our town to lose the future to be walkable, bikeable, and transit friendly.
This is insanely ill-thought and short-sighted and shameful. Everyone deserves walkability. You can't get to that if you just back down and give into developers the first time they complain. We have to build the city we want. For the love of god, deny this [REDACTED] amendment.
