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Public
Input Sought on City County Building Green Space Use
October 29, 2008
– Knoxville, TN -- The Public Building Authority of
Knoxville/Knox County (PBA), in conjunction with the City of
Knoxville and Knox County, announced that they are seeking
public input on potential uses and restrictions of the lawns
at the City County Building (CCB).
“As the owners of
the CCB, we desire to get public input on the potential uses
and restrictions of the CCB green space,” said Dale Smith,
CEO of PBA.
"We
would like to receive public input regarding potential uses
and restrictions for this space prior to any specific
project that may be proposed in the future,” added Smith.
In addition to
public input, PBA will solicit input from all city, county
and state agencies located within the CCB. Public and
agency input should be submitted by December 5, 2008.
The draft policies
below are offered by the PBA for consideration and comment.
Draft Policies:
The policies for
uses and restrictions for the CCB lawns being proposed by
PBA are as follows:
-
No building or structure, with the
possible exception of a monument or memorial, will be
constructed on the Main Avenue-level lawn of the City
County Building (CCB). Any new monument of memorial
must be approved by the City, the County and the Public
Building Authority (PBA).
-
Any new project proposed to be
constructed on the green space on the Hill Avenue-level
lawn is subject to having its basic design and location
approved by City Council, County Commission and the PBA.
-
If a proposed structure is to be
located on the Hill Avenue-level lawn, it must meet the
following design criteria:
-
The structure must be designed
and constructed in a manner that is visually
compatible with the design of the CCB
-
The roof or any other structure
cannot extend vertically above the Main Avenue-level
lawn, with the possible exception of one elevator
and one stair tower penetration located at the
corner of Hill Avenue and Walnut Street for the
purposes of connecting to a pedestrian bridge
leading over Hill Avenue to the Volunteer Landing
bridge.
-
The roof of any new structure
must be grassed, landscaped and irrigated (i.e.,
green roof)
-
No other structure, except as
noted in 3.b. above, may be permanently placed on
the green roof other than benches or other passive
recreation amenities
-
Temporary installation of tents,
tables, chairs, etc. may be allowed on the Main Avenue
lawn and on the Hill Avenue green space/green roof,
subject to the approval of PBA.
“I am very supportive of the development
of policies such as these proposed by the Public Building
Authority for the protection of this important green space
in our downtown,” said Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam.
“As the Mayor of Knox County, I fully
support the development of intelligent guidelines for any
potential use of green space around the City County
Building,” added Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale.
Mayor Bill Haslam has designated Mr.
Bill Lyons, Senior Director of Policy for the City of
Knoxville as the city’s point person in working with the PBA
on this draft set of policies. Likewise, Knox County Mayor
Mike Ragsdale has designated Mr. John Troyer, Knox County
Finance Director, as the county’s point person on this
project.
Lyons, Troyer and Smith will attend the
public hearing on the potential uses and restrictions to be
held on Thursday, December 4, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. in the Main
Assembly Room of the CCB, and also will be provided copies
of any input received via e-mail or letter.
The public may provide input on the
draft policy outlined below by the following methods:
Via the PBA
website, at:
www.ktnpba.org
Via letter
addressed to:
Public Building
Authority
400 Main Street,
Suite M-22
Knoxville, TN 37902
Attn: Dale Smith
Via a public
hearing:
Scheduled for
Thursday, December 4, 2008
5:30 p.m. in the
Main Assembly Room of the CCB.
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