A V I SION FOR A M O RE PRO SP E R OU S E A ST T E NN E S S E E
INTRODUCTION PL AN EAST TENNESSEE (PL AN E.T.) IS AN AMBITIOUS PROCESS TO IMAGINE THE FUTURE OF THIS REGION AND THEN TO CHART A PATH TO REACH A SHARED VISION. INITIATED IN 2011, THE 30-MONTH PROCESS FOCUSED ON ANDERSON, BLOUNT, KNOX, LOUDON, AND UNION COUNTIES, BUT THE IDEAS, THE GOALS, AND THE STRATEGIES THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED ARE RELEVANT TO OUR L ARGER EAST TENNESSEE REGION.
PlanET was designed to: • Foster ongoing citizen involvement in planning for the region’s future • Develop a regional playbook to share strategies and provide guidance for local policy • Increase local capacity for dialogue and action We all love East Tennessee’s natural beauty, rich musical and folk art heritage, technological assets, relaxed pace, and friendly people. But a changing economy and rapid rates of development have brought challenges to our region, including rising housing and transportation costs, diminished employment opportunities for many segments of the population, air and water pollution, and growing rates of health problems. These issues affect the entire region—not just Knoxville, but our small towns, rural communities, and cherished natural areas too. Our five-county region has grown by 300,000 people in the last 50 years and is forecasted to grow by an additional 300,000 people and 240,000 jobs over the next 30 years. Today’s challenges could be compounded by a failure to plan for the forecasted growth of an additional 300,000 people and 240,000 jobs over the next 30 years. Ensuring that our region remains beautiful, becomes healthier and offers pathways to success for its residents requires a commitment to act now.
PlanET is an opportunity to come together in unprecedented ways to tackle our shared problems. While the focus is on the region, our neighborhoods and local communities are where the real solutions lie and where real differences are made. Working to solve tough challenges jointly will help us to grow and innovate in ways that provide our children a more livable, beautiful, and prosperous future. PlanET was designed to develop strategic solutions to region-wide problems by bringing local officials, community and business leaders, and residents together to plan for the region’s future. The goal is to improve the lives for all who live in the region now and for the next generation of residents and workers. The first step in this process involved understanding what the region is like today so we can gaugehow far we have to go.
UNION ANDERSON KNOX
LOUDIN
BLOUNT
T H E P L A N-E T R E G I O N I S E X P E C T I N G N E A R LY
300,000 240,000 +
NEW RESIDENTS
T O D AY ’ S S T R AT E G I E S B E C O M E T O M O R R O W ’ S SUCCESSES. BY ACTING TO REACH OUR R E G I O N ’ S E C O N O M I C , E D U C AT I O N , H E A LT H , AND QUALIT Y OF LIFE GOALS, WE WILL HELP T O E N S U R E T H E L O N G -T E R M P R O S P E R I T Y OF EVERYONE WHO CALLS EAST TENNESSEE HOME, NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.
NEW JOBS
by
2040
PlanET Is A Regional Partnership Of Communities Building A Shared Direction For Our Future.
DEVELOPED THROUGH AN INCLUSIONARY PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PROCESS
BUILDING A DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT The PlanET playbook has been developed through an inclusionary public involvement process and with strong support from leaders throughout the five county region. PlanET has brought together citizens and a diverse Consortium of local governments, non-profit organizations, and businesses working together to develop a vision for the future of the region.
ENGAGING OUR CITIZENS Unprecedented public outreach has captured ideas for East Tennessee’s future from nearly 10,000 people. A multi-facetted outreach effort allowed citizens to share their thoughts through surveys, public forums, focus groups, and small group meetings called “Meeting in a Box.”
REGIONAL OUTREACH SERIES Four regional outreach sessions were structured to provide smallgroup activities to encourage discussion among diverse participants. A variety of meetings both large and small were held throughout the five counties.
The PlanET playbook will be the compilation of strategies gathered and will serve as guide for communities as they plan for a more prosperous future.
COMMUNIT Y SURVEYS To help ensure the input gathered at community meetings and through online tools was representative of the region, two statistically significant surveys of East Tennessee residents were conducted by the University of Tennessee.
ONLINE ENGAGEMENT Social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter were used to disseminate project information and as another forum for discussion. Community engagement tools Mindmixer and MetroQuest were used for round three and four public input.
C U LT I VAT I N G L E A D E R S H I P The PlanET process has been an entirely locally-led process, created by consortium partners. PlanET’s overall guidance comes from the Board of Mayors representing jurisdictions across the region, a Community Leadership Team representing a diverse array of interests and organizations across the region, an Equity Team, and five working groups.
CONSORTIUM PlanET is guided by a Consortium representing residents and organizations in five counties (Anderson, Blount, Knox, Loudon, and Union), sixteen cities, four towns, and community of regional partners. Because of the variety of topics addressed as part of the project, a consortium including organizations representing many facets of the PlanET area, from economic development agencies to government and private non-profit organizations have been leveraged. The Consortium’s main objective is to engage the communities they represent and to solicit greater representation from those groups in Plan East Tennessee.
WORKING GROUPS Consortium members were able to self-select into one or more working groups. The Working Groups were formed to provide expertise and guidance in each of the five PlanET focus areas. Economy and Workforce Environment Healthy Communities Housing and Neighborhoods Transportation and Infrastructure
Working group members formed partnerships, identified opportunities and challenges, developed strategies, and looked for ways to implement policies and strategies identified as part of the process. The working groups were designed to be flexible. Collaboration across working groups was a critical element of the project. Smaller cross-sector subgroups such as an Education Roundtable were created to address specific opportunities identified during the public input process.
B O A R D O F M AYO R S Mayors from each county and municipality within the 5-county project area constitute the Board of Mayors. Early in the process they provided general guidance for the effort and have convened on a semi-regular basis. The PlanET Board of Mayors Chair and Vice-Chair formed an Executive Committee of the Board of Mayors. This committee met on a regular basis to provide greater fiscal and political oversight to the PlanET process, encourage other mayors and political leaders to become involved in PlanET, help build political capacity in the region, engage community leaders and approve major shifts in the project.
EQUIT Y TEAM The PlanET Equity Team was created to ensure that equity and access to opportunity were a core part of the PlanET effort. The Team met on a regular basis to assist
staff in prioritizing outreach efforts for those in our region identified as the most negatively affected by inequity and to lead and assist in the organization of a regional equity assessment.
OUR VISION Our regional vision describes what we hope to see for our region in 2040. It is an affirmation of our confidence in a more prosperous future for all East Tennesseans.
EAST TENNESSEE WILL BE RECOGNIZED INTERNATIONALLY AS A PREMIER REGION OF CHOICE AND OPPORTUNIT Y BY VIRTUE OF OUR EXCEPTIONAL QUALIT Y OF LIFE, SCENIC NATURAL BEAUT Y, UNIQUE CULTURAL HERITAGE, HEALTHY PEOPLE AND PL ACES, STRONG INSTITUTIONS, TALENTED WORKFORCE, ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT, AND PROSPEROUS ECONOMY.
V I S I O N I N G is an opportunity to examine the region and envision what it could become as the future unfolds. Residents of the East Tennessee region desire to build a more prosperous future and maintain a high quality of life.
The places we live will offer a multifaceted Q U A L I T Y O F L I F E We will protect and preserve our N AT U R A L R E S O U R C E S . We will be H E A LT H Y. We will be C O N N E C T E D. We will P R O M OT E C H O I C E . We will be P R O S P E R O U S . We will be E Q U I TA B L E .
That vision hinges on four big ideas:
BUILD STRONG TOWNS AND GROW QUALITY PLACE IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF PEOPLE AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT EXPAND HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION CHOICES PROVIDE A PATH TO A QUALITY JOB FOR EVERYONE “A vision is not just a picture of what could be; it is an appeal to our better selves, a call to become something more.” - Rosabeth Moss Kanter
VISION TO IMPLEMENTATION Building on the shared vision developed through extensive public input, the PlanET playbook will identify goals, objectives, and strategies needed for the region to realize its potential. G O A L > The achievement desired. O B J E C T I V E > The specific results desired from our actions S T R AT E G Y > The specific actions that will help the communitymove towards reaching each objective.
THE FOLLOWING EIGHT GOALS SERVE AS THE CORNERSTONES OF OUR STRATEGIC EFFORTS TO BECOME A MORE COMPETITIVE, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS REGION IN THE YEARS TO COME.
1. CREATE GREAT PLACES
2. HOUSING CHOICES
In East Tennessee we value our unique communities, small towns and cities that have grown in the greatest natural setting on earth. We want to strengthen their identities and enhance their character to make them centers of activity with greater housing and transportation choices.
The changing demographics of our region necessitate that we provide a greater variety of housing choices than currently exists. As the region grows by nearly 300,000 people, we will need more housing that supports an aging population and a rising generation less inclined to want large houses on large lots.
3. CLEAN AIR AND WATER To have air that is safe to breathe and waters in which we can drink, swim, and fish, we have to work across town, city, and county boundaries. Our basic goals of health, safety and expanding opportunities for prosperity can only be achieved by becoming better stewards of our air and water.
4. HEALTHY PEOPLE Because we lack a variety of healthy choices and opportunities, our region has developed high rates of many serious illnesses. Our goal is to build a diverse, vibrant region that nurtures good health and values a high quality of life.
5. REGIONAL PROSPERITY $
To build a foundation for regional prosperity and compete on a global stage, we must make investments in both people and infrastructure. Investments of local resources that produce educated, highly-trained workers and provide the best infrastructure will help us grow businesses and attract new ones.
6. LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION Growing the region’s food systems can boost the local economy, preserve farms, provide healthy food and enhance our independence. Our prime soils, agricultural heritage, plentiful water, and farm-to-market roads can be used to grow the region’s food production capabilities into a complete local food economy.
7. TRANSPORTATION CHOICES Nearly all of our travel is currently done by automobile, most often by people driving alone. Our goal is to expand the options that we have for moving around the region when an additional 300,000 people call the region home in 2040.
8. EFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE Building infrastructure extensions to serve low density sprawl and leapfrog development is not as efficient as developing near existing roads, sewers, and utilities. To make the best use of our current investment and to keep operating and maintenance costs low, we must fully use our existing infrastructure.
For each of the eight goals, five objectives were identified. Each objective represents a different way that our region can achieve the goals for the future. These objectives will be utilized to prioritize future actions that will allow our region to become even better than it is today.
The concept serves the following purposes:
Our regional playbook will outline the strategies that individuals, neighborhoods, businesses and public agencies can undertake to reach each of these objectives. The regional playbook will be available through the PlanET website.
To identify some significant regional investments, particularly in regards to transportation.
Our Preferred Growth Concept: Strong cities and towns and dynamic new centers along existing transportation corridors
LEGEND
Our region of 700,000 people is expected to grow to 1,000,000 residents by 2040 and add 240,000 new jobs. To move the region towards the vision of becoming a premier region of choice and opportunity, should we grow as we have or is a new direction needed? The purpose of a regional growth concept is to illustrate different ways that our region might accommodate the population and job growth and achieve its goals. The development of this concept was guided by input gathered from East Tennessee residents during PlanET’s first two public input rounds and with the assistance of the PlanET Working Groups.
To illustrate how East Tennessee might consider moving towards implementing its regional vision and the goals identified.
L ARGE CENTER
DEVELOPED AREAS
MEDIUM CENTER
URBAN INFILL
SMALL CENTER
SUBURBAN EXPANSION
RURAL CROSSROADS
OPEN SPACE
EMPLOYMENT
TRANSIT CORRIDORS
City
Andersonville
Norris
Plainview
North Cumberland W.M.A
Corryton Gibbs
Clinton Halls Oliver Springs
Oak Ridge
Claxton
Powell
Carter
Karns
Knoxville Bearden
Hardin Valley
Pellissippi Seymour Farragut Rockford Louisville Alcoa
Lenoir City Friendsville Loudon
Maryville Walland
Tellico Village
CENTERS The preferred growth concept for East Tennessee is built around a hierarchy of centers ranging in size, scale and function. This approach to shaping the region’s growth proved to be the most popular as it maximizes transportation and housing choice, minimizes impacts to our prized natural resources, makes efficient use of existing infrastructure and is where economic and social capital are strongest. L ARGE CENTERS: These are the commercial and economic centers of the region. One would expect to find significant employment opportunities, specialized health care and services and premium transit service, such as bus rapid transit, here. MEDIUM CENTERS: Good employment opportunities and specialized services can be found in these centers, but the emphasis is on serving specific areas rather than the region as a whole. Good local transit service and walking and cycling opportunities abound. SMALL CENTERS: These centers are focused on meeting daily needs such as grocery shopping and schools. Think of traditional small downtowns located in the center of walkable neighborhoods. RURAL CROSSROADS: As the name implies, these centers are located in rural areas, usually at the convergence of major roads. They serve basic needs while having minimal impact on the rural landscape. EMPLOYMENT NODES: Although most of our region’s employment growth is focused in centers, business and industrial parks will continue to be present in suburban and rural settings.
TRANSIT CORRIDORS Some of the region’s traditional corridors are targeted for reinvestment and intensification, linking one or more of the large centers and including redevelopment along their length. These corridors are complemented with investment in high-quality transit service that features dedicated stations and lanes, high frequency and fast service. If you live, work, shop or do anything else in one of these corridors, chances are you’ll have good access to convenient and reliable transit.
URBAN INFILL Many places within our region’s larger cities have suffered from years of disinvestment as several decades of suburbanization pushed our development footprint outward, leaving vacant and underutilized spaces in their wake. In the coming decades, however, rising transportation and infrastructure costs and increased demand for land near centers will make these locations ripe for rebirth and reinvestment.
SUBURBAN AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT A number of existing and future residents of East Tennessee will prefer a more rural or suburban lifestyle. Our shared vision includes continued provision of these options, balanced with a host of other lifestyle opportunities, whether it be a downtown high-rise, walkable neighborhood or home in a small town, making East Tennessee a place that truly has something for everyone.
“Strategy is not really a solo sport – even if you’re the CEO.” Max McKeown, The Strategy Book
E A R LY S T R AT E G I C A C T I O N S The strategies identified as part of this effort are voluntary and implementable recommendations intended to connect our vision to specific actions. The following actions are a subset of recommendations identified during the public engagement process. These strategies have the potential for early implementation.
C L E A N A I R & WAT E R Share information about forests, water bodies, and surrounding lands to support local conservation efforts. Landscape with native plant and install fewer hard surfaces near water bodies. Reduce idling and drive less by consolidating trips.
H E A LT H Y P E O P L E Convene local health councils to share information and best practi Engage in at least 150 minutes of activity per week and encourage others, especially children, to be active as well.
REGIONAL PROSPERIT Y Create a regional brand campaign under the auspices of the Knoxville-Oak Ridge Innovation Valley initiative and related efforts. Enhance technical training opportunities for high school students. Engage regional employers in an ongoing and in-depth dialogue about current and future skill requirements and gaps.
LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION Promote the benefits of local food and produce guides for where to purchase it. Encourage schools to support Future Farmers of America and 4H programs. Provide opportunities for training and workshops for emerging food entrepreneurs.
T R A N S P O R TAT I O N C H O I C E S Support the expansion of transit routes to serve more people and places.
Create walkable and bikeable neighborhoods that support transit.
EFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE Reduce the amount of water and energy used and encourage others to do the same. Encourage low impact development that uses less energy and water. Encourage infill development to maximize existing infrastructure.
C R E AT E G R E AT P L A C E S Participate in local events that foster unique identity. Buy local goods and services to keep dollars in our communities. Continue to support and invest in public spaces within each community.
HOUSING CHOICES Assist communities in the development of design guidelines that are consistent with community character. Create incentives for the development of housing that meets a range of preferences and budgets while maintaining neighborhood character.
ACHIEVING THE REGIONAL VISION WILL REQUIRE COMMITMENT AND COORDINATION AMONG ALL DECISIONMAKERS, INCLUDING PUBLIC AGENCIES, THE PRIVATE SECTOR, NON-PROFIT, PHIL ANTHROPIC GROUPS, AND INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS. ACHIEVING OUR VISION WILL REQUIRE STRENGTHENING EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS AND BUILDING NEW ALLIANCES.
Working together, communities in the region stand to gain a competitive edge by capitalizing on and improving the quality of life our region offers. The complete playbook will be complete in late December. To stay involved or learn more about PlanET, visit www.planeasttn.org
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Consortium Partners
Knoxville Area Transit (KAT)
City of Alcoa
Knoxville Area Urban League
Arts and Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville
Knoxville Chamber of Commerce
Blount County
Knoxville Community Development Corporation (CDC)
Blount County Community Action Agency
Knoxville Leadership Foundation (KLF)
Blount Partnership
Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO)
Development Corporation of Knox County
Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB)
East Tennessee Community Design Center
City of Knoxville
East Tennessee Development District
Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee (CAC)
East Tennessee PBS
Knoxville-Knox County Food Policy Council
East Tennessee Quality Growth
Knoxville-Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC)
Emory Valley Center
Legacy Parks Foundation
Town of Farragut
City of Lenoir City
Great Smoky Mountains Greenway Council Knox County
Loudon County
Knox Housing Partnership, Inc. (KHP)
Loudon County Economic Development Agency (EDA)
Maryville, City of
University of Tennessee (UT)
Mayor’s Council on Disability Issues
US Department of Interior, National Park Service, Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP)
Nourish Knoxville Oak Ridge Energy Corridor Coalition Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Center for Transportation Analysis (CTA) Oak Ridge, City of Robin Easter Design Tennessee 2nd Congressional District Tennessee Department of Agriculture Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD) Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Tennessee Department of Health Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT)
US Green Building Council, East Tennessee Chapter(ET-USGBC) PlanET Board of Mayors and the Board of Mayors Executive Committee Executive Team Members Mayor Madeline Rogero, City of Knoxville Mayor Tom Beehan, City of Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Taylor, City of Maryville PL ANET WORKING GROUPS Economy and Workforce Development Environment Healthy Communities Housing and Neighborhoods Transportation and Infrastructure
Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA)
COMMUNIT Y LEADERSHIP TEAM
Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE) Union County
Kathryn Baldwin, City of Oak Ridge
Union County Chamber of Commerce
Jim Dickson, YMCA
Mark Donaldson, MPC
ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTORS
Gary Drinnen, Loudon County Habitat for Humanity
The University of Tennessee Partners:
Bill Eanes, Blount Partnership
College of Business Administration Center for Business and Economic Research
Sheryl Ely, Knox County Health Department Julie Graham, Union County
College of Engineering Center for Transportation and Research
Dan Hawk, East TN Development District
College of Education, Health and Human Sciences Center for Physical Activity and Health
Berny Ilgner, ARCADIS, Inc
College of Social Work Office of Research and Public Service
John Lamb, Blount County Planning
PlanET Consultant Team
Clayton Pangle, Loudon County Tourism
Center for Neighborhood Technology
Pat Phillips, Loudon County Economic Development
Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness
Cindy Pionke, Knox County Engineering
Gresham, Smith and Partners
Grant Rosenberg, Knoxville Leadership Foundation
Mary Beth West Communications
Emily Saunders, City of Knoxville
PlaceMatters, LLC
Becky Wade, City of Knoxville David Watson, East Tennessee Community Design Center P L A N-E T S TA F F Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization Knoxville - Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission
The work that provided the basis for this publication was supported by funding under award with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The substance and findings of this work are dedicated to the public. The author and publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of Government.