Advocate

Expect change
Communities are always changing, moved by shifting expectations of new homebuyers, shoppers, and business owners. How you can work with developers in directing change that meets the needs of both long-time neighbors and new ones alike?

​​Meet with the developer.
If the developer doesn’t contact your group, take the initiative and arrange an informational meeting. Ask to see renderings and discuss the proposal before plans enter final stages.

​Listen.
Developers may have good ideas you haven’t considered. For instance, their proposal may include buffering, new sidewalks, added road capacity, or improved community amenities, which may merit neighborhood support rather than protest.

​Be specific with concerns.
Residents are often concerned about a new development’s impact on the neighborhood. Traffic congestion, school overcrowding, and drainage problems are common worries. Examine issues with facts and statistics – not opinions – to support your position. Planning offers helpful information, such as traffic counts at nearby intersections, the number of vehicle trips per day generated by various types of development, and how many school-age children might be added as a result of new residential projects. Ask Planning staff if the development proposal requires any extra levels of review, like a traffic impact study, a grading plan, or early submission of a drainage plan.

​Understand the process.
Some Planning Commission actions are final (unless appealed), like Uses on Review and Development Plans. Many are recommendations, such as those for rezonings and plan amendments, that must be heard by the legislative body for final action (City Council, Board of Alderman, County Commission).

​Weigh in and stay informed.
Don’t wait for change to happen and then react. Take part in the many opportunities for public involvement, such as plan updates, long-range transportation plan workshops, neighborhood conferences, and meet-the-mayor events. Sign up for Planning’s newsletter and their Facebook page.

After you have a plan in place, you will want to lobby the appropriate body and/or individual members to let them know your position. There are a number of ways you can do this: in person, by phone and by email.
Here are some rules for effective lobbying we have learned over the years. Much of this is common sense, but it is easy to become emotional over land use issues. Remember that you are dealing with a PERSON who has feelings too and you will get a lot further if you remember that. Some people feel it is okay to be angry and abusive to people who are acting in a public capacity. This will not help you achieve your goals.

1. ​Be respectful of the person you are lobbying, both of their time and their feelings. It is very helpful to try and establish a relationship or identify people/issues you have in common BEFORE you ask for their vote.
2. ​Do your best to ensure that everyone in your group is on the same page and has the same messaging.
3. It is important to know background information before you approach them. Do your research. Where do they go to church? Where did they grow up? What have they voted for or against in the past? Check their social media. Like them whether you “like” them or not so you can see what they are posting. Do you know people in common? Is there an issue you both care about you can bring up?
4. ​Don’t overwhelm them with paper. Have a bullet list / fact sheet and link to more info if needed.
5. ​Listen. If you are able to meet in person, don’t go in spouting off facts and figures or be a know it all – they may know more than you or have already heard it, been there, done that. On the other hand, be prepared. Make sure everything you do say is factual, not hearsay.
6. ​Don’t threaten, burn bridges, attack them on his/her positions or other votes. Don’t ridicule government or politics and don’t be partisan.
7. Provide concise, accurate information, no technical terms or jargon.
8. Don’t forget to ask for their support or their vote if you are there for specific issue – ask if you can count on their support/vote.
9. ​Thank them for meeting with you.
10. Don’t forget to follow up with nice note or email.

For Knoxville and Knox County, most meetings are in the Main Assembly Room or Small Assembly Room of the City County Building. The closest entrance to those rooms is 400 Main St SW, Knoxville TN 37902. Google Maps

You will need to clear security (metal detector / bags x-ray), so leave pocket knives etc. at home.

Speakers are usually given three to five (3-5) minutes to make remarks, depending on the body.

Parking: Recommended parking is the Main Street Garage (behind the Bank of America building) at 550 W Main Street (entrances on Hill Ave and Locust St). $1/hour, easy walk to the building along Main St, and if you leave after 7PM the parking will be free (attendants are done and gates are up). There is also some street parking, and plenty of parking at the Dwight Kessel Garage (900 State Street, Knoxville, TN 37902). Before the meeting, you may approach the chair or staff to confirm that they have you signed up to speak on the item or at the Public Hearing portion of the meeting.

Understanding Actions Taken by Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission, City Council and County Commission.
The Planning Commission votes on a number of items at its regular meeting. Some recommendations require further action by Knox County Commission or Knoxville City Council. Some decisions made by the Planning Commission may be appealed to the appropriate appellate body.

Planning maintains a page detailing all of the appeal deadlines and chart of the case types and appeal avenues. ​If you have a question about the appeals process, or if you wish to be notified about anyone filing an appeal on a particular item, see a staff member at meeting (seated at either end of the horseshoe-shaped table) or call the Planning office at (865) 215-2500.

​When must appeals be filed?
Appeals made to the Knoxville City Council must be filed no later than 15 days from the date of the action taken by the Planning Commission; appeals made to the County Commission or the County Board of Zoning Appeals must be filed no later than 30 days. Information about the appeals deadlines is published in the Additions, Changes, and Corrections to the Agenda Package on the Planning website.

When will the appeal be heard?
You will be notified when your appeal will be heard by the City Council or County Commission, usually about two months after the application is filed. The Knox County Board of Zoning Appeals will determine your hearing date at the time of filing. Before an appeal is heard, Planning runs a public notice in the Knoxville News-Sentinel and prepares an information packet on the property for the legislative body hearing the appeal. Property owners are notified by certified mail, and a sign stating the nature of the appeal and the time and place of the scheduled public hearing is posted on the property.