MOUNT VERNON—Mount Vernon City Council approved the comprehensive plan for a PND on Upper Gilchrist Road, which is targeted toward seniors 55 and older.
The vote on Monday was 5 to 2. Council Members Tammy Woods and Janis Seavolt voted no on the Planned Neighborhood Development. Councilman Mel Severns hesitated but voted yes.
The Mount Vernon Municipal Planning Commission approved the plan in March.
Council Member Amber Keener, chair of the Land Use and Development Committee, held a public hearing before the council’s legislative session.
Upper Gilchrist Road residents Marsha Kelso and Jim Stulka reiterated their concerns about increased vehicle traffic, the effect on schools and law enforcement, and road conditions and widening.
Additionally, Stulka questioned the number of rental properties needed and the rental prices.
“I know I think this went through pretty fast,” Kelso said.
“I think it’s time to slow down and look at things,” Stulka said.
Jeff Gottke of the Area Development Foundation gave an overview of the local and regional housing situation. He cited data that shows a need for multi- and single-family homes.
He noted living wage calculations show a single adult needs to make $20 per hour to afford $1,000 in rent. For two adults and two children, the number is $24 per hour in combined household income. Both, he said, are within the county’s wage scale.
The calculations assume paying no more than 30% of income in rent.
The data is on the ADF website.
Lemmon Development revised its earlier plan to include increased landscape buffering. The company also moved the entrance farther south on Upper Gilchrist.
Lemmon’s Patrick Mackie said studies show the rent is feasible for Knox County. He noted studies show the effect on schools is minimal as 14.2% of families in multi-family units have school-age children.
