City Land Use Classifications

This is rural / agricultural in character and includes farms and large tracts of undeveloped land.

This is rural / agricultural in character and includes farms and large tracts of undeveloped land. Undeveloped tracts with the best soils for agriculture are considered as the primary areas for agricultural conservation (AGC).

Primary uses are light manufacturing, office and regionally- oriented warehouse/distribution services in which tractor- trailer transportation is to be a substantial portion of the operations. A zoning category which requires site plan review is expected in the development or redevelopment of such areas. Site plans shall address landscaping, lighting, signs, drainage, and other concerns that are raised in the rezoning process. Substantial landscaped buffers are expected between uses of lesser intensity, particularly residential, office and agricultural uses.

Primary uses are light manufacturing, offices, and locally- oriented warehouse/distribution services. Retail and restaurant services, developed primarily to serve tenants and visitors to the business park can be considered. A zoning category which requires site plan review is expected in the development or redevelopment of such areas. Site plans must include provisions for landscaping, lighting and signs. Substantial landscaped buffers are necessary between uses of lesser intensity, particularly residential, office and agricultural uses.

This land use includes retail and service-oriented development, including shops, restaurants, and what has come to be known as "big box" retail stores; typical service area includes 20,000 to 30,000 residents. Community commercial uses may also be considered within community centers (see Mixed Use and Special Districts).

This includes previously developed strip commercial corridors providing a wide range of retail and service- oriented uses. Such land use classification and related zoning should not be extended because of the adverse effects on traffic-carrying capacity, safety and environmental impacts. Redevelopment of commercial corridors, including mixed use development, should be accommodated under planned or design-oriented zones.

Office and medium residential uses typically have similar development characteristics: scale of buildings, areas devoted to parking, yard spaces and location requirements (on arterials/ collectors). These uses provide a buffer to low density residential areas, particularly when located adjacent to an arterial/collector or as a transition between commercial uses and a neighborhood.

These centers are envisioned to be developed at a moderate intensity with a variety of housing types. The core of the district, with its predominant commercial and office uses, should be within 1/4 mile of the higher intensity residential uses (such as townhouses and apartments). The district should be located within a 1/4-mile radius of an intersection of the thoroughfare system (a collector/arterial or arterial/arterial intersection). In addition to sidewalks, the district should be served by transit. Redevelopment of vacant or largely vacant shopping centers are considerations for these centers.

These are the least intense of the proposed mixed use districts. Locations at the intersection of a local street and thoroughfare are generally most appropriate. The surrounding land uses should primarily be planned for low or medium density residential. The buildings of these centers should be designed with a residential character and scale to serve as a complement to the surrounding neighborhoods.

These are envisioned to be highest intensity mixed use centers. These districts should be served by sidewalk and transit systems and be located on a major arterial, adjacent to an Interstate highway or adjacent to downtown. Downtown Knoxville's Central Business District is a regional mixed use center.

This land use includes business and professional offices and office parks.

Include cemeteries, private golf courses, and similar uses

This classification contains existing parks, wildlife refuges or similar public or quasi-public parks, open spaces and greenways. Quasi-public spaces are owned by civic or related organizations. Location criteria is not needed relative to large components of the park system, like community, district and regional parks and refuges; these areas are generally established through capital expenditures or land transfers from state or federal governments.

This land use includes retail and service-oriented development that meets the needs of residents across Knox County and surrounding areas. Development typically exceeds 400,000 square feet; malls have been a typical form and 'lifestyle centers' are examples of regional-oriented commercial uses. Regional commercial uses may also be considered in Regional Centers (see Mixed Use and Special Districts).

This land is rural in character with very low density residential and/or clustered housing subdivisions as typical land uses.

This land use primarily includes offices and research and development facilities. The target area for such development has been the Pellissippi Technology Corridor. Additional districts could be created in other areas of the city or county. The development standards that are adopted by the Tennessee Technology Corridor Development Authority should be used for such districts.

This district allows for diverse uses and range of development intensities and forms. Zoning is limited to districts which require special use approval.