Planning director: building permits up 30% and county to top $1 billion in annual residential construction

Director Brooks told the planning commission at the May 20 agenda review that the department's annual development activity report will be published in the next few days and that it shows a 30% rise in building permits issued over the past year. "So key takeaways from this year's report is we've seen a 30% increase in the number of building permits issued," Brooks said.

Brooks said apartment construction accounted for much of the permit growth and that the county will exceed $1,000,000,000 in residential construction in a single year for the first time. He cited two high-value projects as examples: an apartment complex in South Knoxville listed at about $81,500,000 and a multiuse stadium around $80,000,000.

Brooks also said the county has begun an "areas of opportunity" mapping project with the city focused on transit-oriented development and that staff will discuss the project over the next six to eight months. He said the county's comprehensive land use and transportation plan was recently adopted, KGIS map layers were updated, and staff will accept plan amendments on a quarterly schedule; the first amendments could be heard at the August 8 planning commission meeting.

Brooks proposed a one-hour training in July for commissioners to review the new plan, explain amendment criteria and provide routine items such as conflict-of-interest training. He asked commissioners to tell staff if that timing works and said Miss Blakeney will identify additional training items.

The department plans to publish the full development activity report on its website and will circulate a link to commissioners when it goes live.