Rocky Top council approves rezoning for clinic, RV park
The Rocky Top City Council approved the rezoning of tracts in two different areas of the city during its August meeting to accommodate a new urgent-care clinic and a potential recreational-vehicle park.
Following a public hearing, the council voted unanimously to pass on second and final reading an ordinance to rezone property at 510 and 530 North Main St. to C-1 (Commercial District) from R-1 (Low Density Residential District) for construction of the Fast Pace Health urgent-care clinic, which is being built on a vacant lot across the street from Glenn’s Pizza.
City Manager Michael Foster said the property was covered by two different zones — one area that was already C-1, and another that was R-1.
“It’s commercial property, but at one point there were residences behind it,” Foster said. “The lot was once divided into two tracts, and part of that, we found out, still had the residential zoning.”
Also approved on final reading was an ordinance to rezone a parcel on Sharp Drive from R-2 (High Density Planned Residential Development District) to C-2 (Tourist Commercial District) to allow a recreational-vehicle park to be established just off Tennessee 116, Foster said.
In a related move, the council approved on first reading an ordinance to rezone an additional tract on Tennessee 116, adjacent to the Sharp Drive property, from C-1 to C-2, also on behalf of the would-be RV park developers.
The city issued a building permit for the urgent-care clinic in July, and work has already begun on the site, Foster said.
“They were building a retaining wall and putting in drain lines last week, and the building should start going up soon,” he said.
Franklin, Tennessee-based Fast Pace Health will spend $550,000 to build the 3,600-square-foot clinic in Rocky Top, according to the building permit.
The company’s plans for the new clinic were approved by the city Planning Commission during its June 15 meeting, and City Council members were informed of the decision during their regular meeting Thursday, June 17.
The developer is listed on the documents as JMB ST Investment Co. LLC, and the contractor as Raven Construction of Knoxville.
During June’s council meeting, Foster said the company could have the clinic open within about six months after construction begins.
It will be the first medical clinic in Rocky Top in at least two years, Foster said. A previous Covenant Health clinic and physicians’ office on South Main Street closed about two years ago.
“We’re excited to see it come in,” Foster said earlier. “They seem to have a good reputation. The Fast Pace in Clinton always seems to stay busy.”