VOL. 9 NO. 10
BUZZ BZA interviews Knox County Commissioner John Schoonmaker will hold an interview meeting 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12, at Farragut Town Hall, conference room A, to interview candidates who are interested in serving on the Knox County Board of Zoning and Appeals (BZA). Candidates must live in the 5th commission district and be willing to volunteer four hours each month. Info: 215-2534.
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March 11, 2015
Shamrock dancing
TREK South heads to the Islands In celebration of National Wildlife Week, TREK South is heading to the Islands – Seven Islands State Birding Park (formerly Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge). The group’s monthly hike will start at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 15, and last for two to three hours. Mac Post, one of the authors of “Urban Hikes in Knoxville, Knox County, TN,” will join the group to identify critters they might encounter. For info and directions, visit TREK South on Facebook.
IN THIS ISSUE Say what??? A couple of West Knox legislators are trying to amend the Knoxville city charter to require county-nominated representation on the KUB board of commissioners. Victor Ashe says the usual process for amending the charter is by voter referendum. And besides, three county residents are already on the 7-member board.
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Read his column on page A-5
Big plays Marvin West recalls big plays – from Gene McEver to Larry Seivers to Al Wilson – from Vol football history. Many big plays and a few unforgettable ones. Marvin longs for a few more.
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Read his column on page A-4
Great Cake Bake Delicious creations in batter and frosting filled the Tennessee Terrace level of Neyland Stadium as more than 150 beautifully decorated cakes, cake pops, cupcakes and nonedible diaper cakes filled the room. The Great Cake Bake, now in its sixth year, is a tasty fundraising event by the Knox County Public Library,
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See pictures on page A-2
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Fathers and daughters alike look forward to the annual Shamrock Ball at Farragut High School. Kevin Greene and his daughter Maddie, age 6, had a rollicking good time at the March 7 dance, sponsored by the town of Farragut and the Kiwanis Club of Farragut. In addition to being a fun time, the dance raises money for Kiwanis programs. For more photos, see Farragut Faces on page A-3. Photo by Nancy Anderson
Cultivating new business in Farragut By Wendy Smith Now that cold weather is almost over, the Farragut Economic Development Committee, along with other town leaders, hopes to grow some new business. Committee members are looking forward to its April 1 meeting, when local Realtors and developers are invited to get up-to-date information on regulations regarding development in the town. Developers need to understand recent zoning changes, like the town’s adoption of the area and text identified as Mixed Use Town Center (MUTC) on the Future Land Use Plan, said town administrator David Smoak. There are new standards on how construction should look in the MUTC, but the zoning district also allows for more flexibility, like reduced setbacks and modified building height requirements. The MUTC, located primarily along Kingston Pike between Glen
Abbey Boulevard and Concord Road, is the preferred area for a downtown. The town’s new Architectural and Design Guidelines, which were approved last month by the Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen, will also be reviewed. Lacy Beasley of Retail Strategies will also speak at the meeting about current retailing trends, like fast casual restaurants, said Smoak. The meeting, held at Farragut Town Hall, begins at 9 a.m. Four town leaders will represent Farragut at the International Council of Shopping Centers convention in Las Vegas in May. Assistant town administrator Gary Palmer, mayor Ralph McGill, and Economic Development Committee members Jim Nixon of Turkey Creek Land Partners and David Purvis of the Farragut Business Alliance plan to attend. The convention will allow town leaders to meet retailers to discuss
available leasing opportunities in Farragut. The goal, Smoak said, is to create movement on properties that are currently vacant and fill undeveloped space. He mentioned two noteworthy properties that are in the process of being developed. The request to rezone a 30-acre farm northwest of the intersection of Kingston Pike and Everett Road from residential to commercial is on the agenda for the March 19 Municipal Planning Commission meeting. The rezoning of a 13-acre property on Outlet Drive east of Snyder Road to accommodate an apartment complex has already been approved by the Knoxville-Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission. Smoak said the town is opposed to the rezoning of the Outlet Drive parcel because it is within the town’s Urban Growth Boundary, and apartments would be inconsistent with the town’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan, which
calls for the property to be office/ light industrial. Bettye Sisco of the Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce lamented that several ribboncuttings for new businesses were delayed due to bad weather. They will be rescheduled. She also called attention to the chamber’s upcoming auction, That’s Entertainment, which is 6 p.m. Friday, April 24, at Rothchild Catering and Conference Center, 8807 Kingston Pike. A portion of the proceeds will benefit East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, and tickets are available at www. farragutchamber.com. Allison Sousa of the Farragut Business Alliance said the organization hopes to be more proactive in serving as a liaison between the town and developers. The organization’s next big event is Art in Park for Children at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 2, at Founders’ Park at Campbell Station.
A new vision for Blount Mansion By Wendy Smith
The Cherokee Indians called Blount Mansion “the house with many eyes.” Executive director Katie Stringer plans to show visitors what those eyes have seen during the home’s 220year history. The mansion, which would be Katie Stringer considered a small house by today’s standards in spite of several expansions, has primarily been dedicated to telling the history of William Blount, governor of the Southwest Territory, and his family. But the site was home to other notables, like the McClung fam-
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ily and Knoxville mayor Samuel Boyd, as well as immigrants who rented rooms in the house around the turn of the century, says Stringer. She hopes to use the museum to interpret the city’s entire history – from native Americans to women to local industry. Stringer, who grew up in Kingston, remembers visiting the Blount Mansion when she was in the first grade. Her teacher, coincidentally, was Mrs. Blount. She still has the coloring book she purchased that day from the gift shop. Several copies of the same coloring book were recently located in the Craighead-Jackson House next door, so it is – once again – available for purchase in the gift shop. Stringer has always loved his-
tory. She has a master’s degree in ancient history with a certificate in museum management from the University of Memphis and a Ph.D. in public history from MTSU. Last summer, she published a book, “Programming for People with Special Needs: A Guide for Museums and Historic Sites.” Blount Mansion’s accessibility issues for the elderly and those with special needs are always in the back of her mind, she says. She came to Blount Mansion during summer 2013 just before the museum closed for almost a year for renovations. The philosophy of museum house management has changed in recent years. The emphasis is now on sustainability, Stringer says. Museums can’t operate on
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Blount Mansion History Supper The Blount Mansion Association will present an evening of food and fun at the Grill at Highlands Row at 6 p.m. Monday, March 23. James R. Knight, author of “Hood’s Tennessee Campaign: The Desperate Venture of a Desperate Man,” will speak about John Bell Hood and the Civil War in Tennessee. Cost is $65 per person. RSVP by March 20 at 525-2375 or info@ blountmansion.org To page A-3